A Urologist Settled That 'Boxers vs. Briefs' Debate Over Your Sperm Health (2024)

For years now, the idea that wearing snug briefs can damage your sperm count has become pervasive in our culture—but is there any actual science to back this up?

In a new video on her YouTube channel, urologist and pelvic surgeon Rena Malik, MD weighs in, starting with the generally accepted wisdom that keeping your scrotum at a higher temperature can have a negative effect on the quality of your sperm, making looser boxer shorts an instantly preferable choice.

"If you think about it, boxers leave a little more room to breathe, whereas briefs are a little bit warmer and cozier," she says. "So the thought has always been that maybe you should avoid briefs if you're trying to get pregnant."

However, when looking into the data on this, Malik traces this conclusion back to a '90s study of just 97 men which actually found no real difference between sperm quality in men who wore boxers and men who wore briefs, as well as only a minimal difference in scrotal temperature. A more recent study, she adds, found zero impact of underwear choice on ability to conceive.

So as far as the health and quality of your little swimmers is concerned, it really doesn't matter if you prefer to wear boxer shorts or briefs. However, Malik points out that wearing briefs can in some cases lead to other health or hygiene issues such as jock itch.

And as for guys who opt out of underwear altogether and like to go commando instead, Malik has some very simple but important medical advice: be extra careful when zipping up your fly.