Whether you’re a boxer briefs or a tighty whities kind of guy, you’ve certainly heard the rumor that restrictive underwear can lead to problems in the bedroom. It’s a legend that’s as old as underwear, and it just won’t go away. While most men are quick to write off the rumor, it still manages to stick with you. “What if I’m hurting my erection by wearing underwear that’s too tight?” You may find yourself wondering. “Could my choice in underwear really lead to erectile dysfunction?”
Well, worry not, fellow men. Even if your underwear is ludicrously tight, you won’t have to worry about your erection paying the price.
But your sperm count is another matter entirely.
While tight underwear physically can’t cause erectile dysfunction to develop, it can lead to lowered sperm count.
This is because tight underwear pulls the testicles up to the body. The testicles hang loose from your body, and actually require a different temperature to function normally, which is typically around 2 to 7 degrees below that of the body. When your testicles are nuzzled up against your body, the internal temperature of the testicles will begin to rise. Eventually, your testicles will “overheat” and sperm will begin to die off.
Now, this isn’t instantaneous, so don’t think slipping into a pair of tight undies spells certain death for your sperm. Sperm death will occur if tight underwear is worn for long periods of time, typically over several years.
So if you ever want to have children, it would be wise to swap out your underwear for some boxer briefs.