Avoid tight boxers to protect fertility, sperm quality – Experts warn men

Fertility experts are advising men to avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear, warning that it may negatively impact sperm quality and fertility.

According to specialists, tight boxers can raise the temperature around the testicle area, potentially affecting sperm production.

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service defines low sperm count, or oligozoospermia, as having fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. The World Health Organization reports that approximately 17.5% of the global adult population, or about one in six people, experience infertility, with little regional variation in its prevalence.

Experts, speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, highlighted the importance of early diagnosis of poor sperm quality, emphasizing that timely treatment can help improve outcomes. Dr. Anas Funtua, a Consultant Gynaecologist at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina, explained that temperature plays a critical role in sperm storage, and any temperature disruptions can lower sperm quality. He noted that sperm quality is influenced by factors beyond quantity, requiring both qualitative and quantitative analysis to determine sperm viability.

“Genetic factors can result in poor sperm quality,” said Dr. Funtua. “Sperm quality can also be affected by temperature fluctuations, lifestyle choices like smoking and alcohol use, and exposure to drugs and infections.” He also cautioned against the use of tight boxers and placing laptops on laps, as both can increase testicle temperature, potentially harming sperm.

Dr. Emma Oyibo, a Consultant Urologist at the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State, further explained that poor semen quality is determined by specific parameters set by the World Health Organization (WHO), such as semen volume, sperm count, motility, vitality, and morphology. He emphasized that while congenital conditions like cryptorchidism (undescended testis) and acquired factors like infections, varicocele, and lifestyle choices contribute to low sperm quality, some men with low sperm quality can still be fertile and father children, depending on the severity of the condition.

A study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health supports the experts’ advice, revealing that men who wear boxers have better sperm counts and healthier hormone levels compared to those who wear tighter underwear. The study, which involved 656 men, found that men who wore boxers had 25% higher sperm concentration and 17% higher total sperm count. Additionally, men in the study who wore tighter underwear had higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), suggesting that the body attempts to compensate for lower sperm production by producing more of this hormone.

This research underlines the potential benefits of choosing looser underwear to maintain optimal sperm health.