Boxer shorts may be better for sperm

Men who wear boxer shorts may have better sperm than those who opt for briefs, a new study suggests.

Those who wear boxer shorts were found to have higher sperm concentration and a higher sperm count, according to a study published in the journal Human Reproduction.

Previous research has linked increased scrotal temperatures to adverse testicular function, so the team experts set out to examine whether a man’s type of underwear had any effect.

The team of US researchers examined data on 656 men who were part of a couple seeking treatment at a fertility centre in the US between 2000 and 2017.

Semen assessments were completed and men filled in lifestyle questionnaires, including whether they most frequently wore “boxers”, “jockeys”, “bikinis” or “briefs”.

The participants were an average age of 36 and 53 per cent reported wearing boxers. The researchers found men who reported wearing boxers had a

25 per cent higher sperm concentration and 17 per cent higher total count compared to those who wore different underwear.

They also found those who wore boxer shorts had lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) - which stimulates sperm production.