It’s a debate as old as time: Boxers or briefs? There are men that swear that boxers are the way to go; the loose fabric and the not-too-tight waistband all add up to boxers being the de facto underwear for some men. But some men argue that the snug fit and unobtrusive feeling of briefs make it the supreme underwear choice. But boxer proponents always seem to have a trump all argument when it comes to briefs; tight briefs, they say, can lead to premature ejaculation. According to urban legend, if your underwear is a touch too tight, you’ll find yourself struggling to last in the bedroom for the rest of your days. It’s a rumor we’ve all heard, but is there any truth to it?
Well, sort of. In actuality, tight underwear does not cause premature ejaculation, nor can it cause erectile dysfunction to develop. What it can cause, however, is a lowered sperm count, which can lead to a whole new set of issues. Yes, tight underwear can actually cause your sperm count to drop, and if you don’t switch up your underwear, this affect may be irreversible.
This because briefs bring your testicles up close and personal to your body. The testicles hang away from the body to allow them to regulate their own temperature; when brought up to the body, this can lead to an internal temperature change within the testes. This temperature change causes the testicles to heat up, effectively causing the semen within to “cook” and whither up. Should the testes remain close to the body and continually be exposed to heat, this will cause the sperm to continue to disappear and the testicles will not be able to replace them, effectively permanently shrinking your sperm count.
So while your favorite pair of tighty whities might not cause premature ejaculation, they can still lead to issues within the testicles. You don’t need to ditch briefs, but switch to pairs that aren’t quite so constrictive and you should be able to avoid this issue.