Cross SectionalHumann = 6562018
Type of underwear worn and markers of testicular function among men attending a fertility center.
Plain-language summary
This study looked at whether the type of underwear men wear affects markers of testicular function, such as sperm count and hormone levels. Researchers surveyed 656 men seeking fertility treatment about their usual underwear choice and analyzed their semen and hormone levels. Men who mostly wore boxers had higher sperm concentration and total count, and lower FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone, the pituitary signal that drives sperm production) levels, compared to those who did not. The findings suggest that looser underwear like boxers may support better testicular function.
Key findings
- Men who mostly wore boxers had 25% higher sperm concentration.
- Men who mostly wore boxers had 17% higher total sperm count.
- Men who mostly wore boxers had 14% lower FSH levels.
- Sperm concentration and total count were inversely related to FSH levels.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Cross-sectional studies capture data at one point in time, making them useful for spotting associations but less able to establish cause and effect.
- Population
- Men attending a fertility center, which may limit generalizability to the broader population.
- Funding
- National Institutes of Health (Grants R01ES022955, R01ES009718, P30ES000002, and K99ES026648)
- Takeaway
- This study found that men who mostly wore boxers had higher sperm counts and lower FSH levels. If you are trying to conceive, it may be worth switching to looser underwear like boxers.