Type of underwear worn and markers of testicular function among men attending a fertility center.

ABSTRACT:

Study question

Is self-reported type of underwear worn associated with markers of testicular function among men at a fertility center?

Summary answer

Men who reported most frequently wearing boxers had higher sperm concentration and total count, and lower FSH levels, compared to men who did not.

What is known already

Elevated scrotal temperatures are known to adversely affect testicular function. However, the epidemiologic literature on type of underwear, as a proxy of scrotal temperature, and male testicular function is inconsistent.

Study design, size, duration

This is a cross-sectional study including 656 male partners of couples seeking infertility treatment at a fertility center (2000-2017).

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Self-reported inf

SUBMITTER: Minguez-Alarcon L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6530653 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature