TECH

Just underwear reduces sperm concentration, study says

Men who wear wider underwear have a higher concentration of sperm compared to those who wear tight underwear, suggests a study published on Wednesday in the journal Human Reproduction. The researchers found that men who have high levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), responsible for stimulating sperm production, have poor testicular health, which can be caused by too much heat in the reproductive organ. One of the possible causes for this effect is the fact that just underwear increases the temperature in the area.The study revealed that participants who wore large underwear had 25% higher sperm concentration compared to other underwear models; the count and the number of spermatozoa were also higher: 17% and 33%, respectively. "If you are within the normal range, these numbers should not make any difference. However, if the count is below normal, that 25% will not be enough. Therefore, changes in lifestyle when trying to have a child are necessary, "explained co-author Jorge Chavarro of Time Health magazine.

The findings were based on data from 656 men - ages 18-56 - who sought treatment for infertility at Massachusetts General Hospital in the United States from 2000 to 2017. In addition to providing semen samples (in some cases, collected blood samples for hormonal tests), they answered questionnaires about lifestyle habits, including the type of clothing they used most often in the previous three months. The results of semen and blood tests were compared to lifestyle responses.
The researchers pointed out that, despite having sought a fertility clinic, most participants had good semen quality when compared to World Health Organization (WHO) reference standards, which is 15 million (or more) per milliliter of sêmen.

Ideal temperature
The team at Harvard University noted that the most significant differences were found among men who preferred boxer briefs and those who favored traditional panties or joquey briefs. According to the scientists, this result is probably related to the increase in testicular temperature, an obstacle to the production of spermatozoa. Although the differences have not been very large, experts say that the slightest change may have an impact on production.
According to The Guardian, the current study did not investigate the temperature of the testicles, but since the 1920s scientists have been warning of the importance of keeping male gonads "aerated" to ensure effective sperm production. More current information indicates that the ideal temperature is 3 ° C to 4 ° C lower than the body temperature, which is 37 ° C.

The choice of underwear
Another finding revealed that although there is no evidence that choice of undergarment may interfere with testosterone production, men wearing tight garments have higher levels of follicle stimulating hormone, which may indicate an attempt by the brain to compensate for decreases in sperm count. "If there were no compensation, production would be even lower. But it is not enough and therefore these individuals still have lower counts, "said Chavarro.In an interview with The Telegraph, Allan Pacey, a professor of andrology at the University of Sheffield in the UK, commented that the study confirms the belief that poor sperm quality could be reduced by just changing the underwear type. "Because such a change is possible, these results may be helpful in improving men's testicular function," added Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón, a researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health.Pacey further notes that the study is not declaring that underwear is a major cause of infertility, since this factor has not even been measured. In addition, sperm quality and fertility indicate distinct situations. "There is no real proof that changing the style of underwear will make any difference. However, I think it's a reasonable change, low cost and low risk, with which men can compromise to improve the quality of semen. "



Source: abril.com