Over the years, several
myths about men's underwear have emerged, sparking various debates in society. Some of these beliefs have a scientific basis, such as the study from the University of Toulouse (France) that claims that tight underwear reduces sperm quality.
However, there are other claims that are more myth than truth, such as the belief that it's better not to wear underwear if you're a man, for example. Want to know more? Read on to
learn the myths and truths about men wearing underwear .
Myths about men's underwear (and their truths)
From the belief that wearing tight underwear can affect fertility and sperm quality, to the belief that sleeping in underwear is bad for men, to the belief that DNA can vary depending on the underwear we wear. We review the
most widespread myths about wearing men's underwear and how much truth there is to them.
Wearing tight underwear affects fertility
First of all, it's important to know that the
temperature of the testicles should be between 1 and 2 degrees Celsius lower than body temperature. This is necessary for their proper functioning, so a higher temperature will be detrimental to sperm production.
Thus, as the aforementioned study from the University of Toulouse (France) has shown, we can conclude that
wearing tight men's underwear can cause the temperature of the scrotum to rise and, consequently, reduce fertility. This, then, would be one of the
consequences of wearing tight underwear .
On the other hand, in addition to wearing underwear that's too tight,
using a laptop on your lap can also increase scrotal temperature, due to its proximity to the groin area. This was demonstrated by a study from the Department of Urology at New York University.
It is bad for a man to sleep without underwear
One in three men sleeps naked, according to a recent study by the National Sleep Foundation. But is it really good to sleep without underwear? According to science,
doing so only brings health benefits, and quite a few.
Going without underwear can help lower blood pressure, improve skin condition, and regulate body temperature , all of which translates into better sleep quality. So, if you're one of those men who thinks it's bad to sleep in underwear, we confirm you're believing a false myth.
Underwear can alter sperm DNA
You've probably heard that underwear can even alter sperm DNA. Is this true? Yes and no. We say this because, obviously, underwear itself can't cause these changes, but
excessive heat in the scrotum can .
When the temperature rises,
the scrotum releases oxidative substances that damage the sperm membrane and break the DNA chain. This reduces the ability to fertilize, although the egg may be able to repair this damage.
For men, it is good not to wear underwear.
In this case, we'd be dealing with a rather erroneous belief. In terms of hygiene, not wearing underwear can be counterproductive. This ranges from
skin irritations caused by intimate skin being in direct contact with pants to the
development of infections such as jock itch if you wear underwear that's still wet or too tight without underwear as a barrier.
Wearing underwear provides hygiene and protection for the intimate area. Furthermore, wearing them daily prevents the growth of bacteria that can lead to various infections. For all these reasons,
not wearing underwear is only recommended for sleeping , as we mentioned, but it is not recommended for everyday routines or when wearing "street clothes" without underwear underneath.
Non-breathable underwear also has a negative influence.
When we wear
non-breathable underwear, the risk of elevated scrotal temperature increases, and therefore, the possibility of reduced sperm quality and capacity increases. This can be easily solved by wearing 100% cotton underwear, which allows the skin to breathe freely.
Tight underwear affects sperm quality
It may seem incredible, but it's true that the temperature caused by tight underwear does affect sperm quality. This is measured by
the sperm's ability to fertilize an egg , and, as we've seen, this is greatly reduced by an elevated scrotal temperature.
Therefore, it must be said that
sperm quality is not diminished by underwear itself , but by wearing inappropriate underwear that increases the temperature of the scrotum. Therefore, if we like to wear tight-fitting underwear, we should just make sure it's made of a breathable fabric and doesn't constrict the scrotum so much that it could affect sperm quality and function.
The damage that tight underwear can cause when temperatures rise only occurs when worn for many hours and for an extended period of time. Therefore,
if you must resort to this type of tighter clothing, try to do so only for certain occasions.
How to maintain an adequate temperature in the intimate area
There's a belief (another myth within a myth in this case) that
choosing between briefs or boxers can improve or worsen sperm quality. However, preventing body temperature from rising, which can affect sperm quality,
doesn't depend on the shape of the briefs, but rather on the material they're made of and
choosing the right size.
In this sense, choosing to buy cheap, low-quality underwear has certain negative consequences for men's intimate health and fertility. Therefore, it's recommended to always wear quality men's underwear and follow a few simple
tips to maintain a good temperature in the intimate area :
-
Avoid hot baths daily , such as jacuzzis and saunas.
-
Don't place your laptop in your crotch area without a tray to support it and prevent heat from reaching your intimate area.
- You can wear tight underwear, but don't do it every day , especially if it's not good quality.
- Avoid sports that require you to sit for long periods of time.
So, we can say that the myths about men's underwear in relation to sperm quality and fertility have certain connotations.
What really affects sperm quality is the increase in body temperature , the stability of which can be achieved by using the
best material for men's underwear and choosing the right size.
