Tighty Whiteys Are Bad for Your Sperm Count, Says Science

Let 'em breathe. Harvard's orders.

August 9, 2018 9:00 am

Well, it’s only been a week or so since “summer penis” set the web ablaze.

And already doctors have turned their attention to a pair of next door neighbors.

Researchers at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health recently tested the sperm count of 656 men in an effort to examine the relationship between looseness of clothing and a healthy reproductive system. And, well … their conclusions will probably have you doing some readjusting.

The numbers: Men who wore boxer shorts instead of tight-fitting underwear had a 25% higher sperm concentration. That comes along with a 17% higher sperm count, and 33% more swimming sperm. Most of those stats confirm ideas we might’ve guessed (really, who likes sleeping in Under Armour briefs, anyway?) but the most fascinating finding hinges on a hormone called FSH, short for follicle stimulating hormone.

Loose boxer folk see a 14% decrease in the production and release of that hormone. Meaning, their brains see less reason to work late hours remaking more and more sperm.

That’s enough reason to loosen up. And we’ve got your first new pair right here

h/t BBC News
Image from Birdman IMDB

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