# Boxer shorts and sperm count myth

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boxer-shorts-and-sperm-count-myth/355756>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 7, 2006, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boxer-shorts-and-sperm-count-myth/355756 "2006-05-07T10:40:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boxer-shorts-and-sperm-count-myth/355756/1 "2006-05-07T10:40:20Z")

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I thought this myth was debunked years ago. Why is it still so prevalant?  
Is it the boxer short makers who keep it up?  
I read this years ago in books and magazines. I do not have any good links. Can anyone help with links?

[http://www.brucegilbertmd.com/publications/articles/boxersvbriefs.pdf](http://www.brucegilbertmd.com/publications/articles/boxersvbriefs.pdf)

That is the best link I can find.

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**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boxer-shorts-and-sperm-count-myth/355756/2 "2006-05-07T11:00:01Z")

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I’ve never heard that it was myth. Doctors still recommend men wear looser undergarments if overheating is a possibility. Gotta let those boys hang if you want to help them be able to finish the race.

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**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boxer-shorts-and-sperm-count-myth/355756/3 "2006-05-07T11:16:38Z")

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Cecil Adams’ column on sperm count (but nothing about boxer shorts)

[http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050128.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050128.html)

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**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boxer-shorts-and-sperm-count-myth/355756/4 "2006-05-07T16:30:59Z")

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Sperm are better produced at temperatures lower than body temperature. That’s why the testicles hang outside the body. It’s also why the testicles shrivel close to the body when they get cold.

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**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boxer-shorts-and-sperm-count-myth/355756/5 "2006-05-07T16:38:18Z")

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> [@solkoe](#):
>
> Sperm are better produced at temperatures lower than body temperature. That’s why the testicles hang outside the body. It’s also why the testicles shrivel close to the body when they get cold.

Right. As in that Seinfeld episode about “shrinkage.” 😃

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**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boxer-shorts-and-sperm-count-myth/355756/6 "2006-05-07T20:31:15Z")

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> [@KlondikeGeoff](#):
>
> Right. As in that Seinfeld episode about “shrinkage.” 😃

I’m out there, Klondike, and I’m LOVIN’ EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

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**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boxer-shorts-and-sperm-count-myth/355756/7 "2006-05-07T21:55:59Z")

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The last official concensus I heard on this topic was from a reproductive specialist at the University of Minnesota.  
He said that the logic behind it is true (sperm do reproduce better at lower temperatures) but in practice wearing boxer shorts makes no difference (wearing either boxers or briefs all day the testicles stay about the same temperature).