Wearing boxers can boost men's sperm count

BOSTON — Science may have finally answered the age-old boxers vs. briefs debate, at least as far as your swimmers are concerned.

According to a new study led by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, semen and blood samples were collected from 656 men seeking treatment at a fertility center with their partners. The men were also asked what the type of underwear they wore the last three months.

Researchers found that while the subjects produced similar amounts of ejaculation fluid, boxer-wearers had 25% higher sperm concentration, 17% higher total sperm count, and better motility compared to those who wore jockeys or briefs.

Brief wearers' blood had more follicle-stimulating hormones, which are released by the pituitary gland and associated with sperm production. This suggests the gland may have been boosting hormone production to compensate for lower sperm numbers.

The Guardian reports that previous studies have found scrotal temperature to affect spermatogenesis, and that wearing loose-fitting underwear is better than tighter undergarments at keeping it cool.

But while the new study shows a link between type of underwear and fertility, more research is needed to account for other factors and establish clear causality.