Tight underwear can damage sperm, says study with 26,000 men

O Asian Journal of Andrology published a study last October in which it concluded that wearing tight underwear can affect sperm quality. The investigation brought together over 26,000 men. The evaluations were made in men aged 30 years and looking for a fertility assessment.

The study compared tests of men who wore looser underwear, such as boxers, than those who preferred the use of tighter underwear and options. Thus, they concluded that the use of tighter underwear could bring some changes in sperm quality.

Tight underwear: How they affect sperm

As for the men who wore looser clothes, those who wore underwear showed more 18% chance of having a lower sperm volume, 12% less sperm capable of moving, 48% more chance of having less sperm in a normal format and 108% more likely to have a portion of sperm with DNA damage.

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“ In conclusion, the use of tight underwear was associated with worse sperm quality and a higher prevalence of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation,” the authors of the study, cited here by ScienceAlert, led by urologist Xue-Chun Hu of the University of Science and Technology of China, revealed.

“Opting for looser underwear can represent a simple and modifiable approach to help protect semen quality and sexual functionthe experts continue. ”.

It may be the heat in the testicle area that eventually affects the quality of the sperm that is produced. The same source reveals that before this all had already been made others with similar conclusions. 

More studies? What says expert

For example, one from 2028 from Harvard brought together 656 men. Those wearing tighter underwear had a lower sperm concentration. This sample of the Chinese study turned out to be 40 times larger and had a very similar result. 

“ These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that scrotal thermal stress contributes to affect spermatozoa. Together, these results indicate that the use of tight underwear is an easily modifiable lifestyle factor that can negatively affect sperm quality, sperm DNA integrity and male sexual function”, continue those responsible for the investigation.

“In addition to thermal stress, the prolonged use of tight underwear can reduce testosterone secretion and lead to sexual dysfunctionl”, also suggest the authors of the study.

ScienceAlert also spoke with an expert in the field who points out that further studies are needed to conclude with more certainty what this investigation showed.

“Studies that are often cited, even by supposedly reliable sources, are generally conducted in groups of men seeking help for fertility problems, so the results cannot be generalized to the entire population” alerts Tim Moss.