Men's Underwear and Fertility

There are different types of men's underwear to choose from - some men prefer to wear boxer shorts while others like the briefs better. Some say that briefs are sexier since they fit perfectly to the body and define the figure of a man better. On the other hand, boxer shorts are often preferred by men who feel uncomfortable with tight underwear and like buggy and cooler clothes and underwear.

However fashion and personal preference are not the only reasons men choose one type of underwear over another. There is currently a debate which type of men's underwear is better for male fertility and a lot of arguments have been given to defend each side of the debate.

Some claim that tight briefs generate a lot of heat, which can cause infertility and this statement has turned a lot of men away from using briefs. Additionally, since briefs prevent the free movement of the penis, some claim that they also hamper the free blood flow and we all know how important blood flow is for the penis to serve its purpose. Such claims, however, are overruled by many studies and the manufacturers who insist that there is not a significant difference between briefs and boxer shorts in terms of male fertility.

And yet, the sudden temperature increase in the testes can cause sperm sterilization. The heat will continue to destroy sperm cells till a man reaches infertility. So in order to prove or disprove the claims about men's underwear a study was carried in which men wore briefs and boxer shorts. The factor that was of greatest significance for the experiment was the difference of the temperature in the testes while wearing boxers or briefs. The study unquestionably proved that the claim on briefs causing too much heat is just exaggeration. The heat is not enough to disrupt the balance in the male reproductive organs.

Consequently, the use of briefs or boxer shorts has nothing to do with the fertility of men. Therefore, the preference of one type of underwear over the other based on fertility issues is pointless and scientifically and medically baseless.