Boxers or Briefs?
/Let’s have a brief discussion, shall we?
It concerns, well, our boys, our troops in the field, our sperm.
What are the best ways to keep them active, abundant and well-dressed for success?
There is a perpetually unsettled debate about that last matter. We’ll get to that, but first I’ll be direct about why all of this is important. There are more than 1.2 million American couples — often frustrated and confused — who seek help in the arena of conception every year.
Male Infertility 101
Many of these guys assume that fertility is a female health problem, but 50% of couples are actually affected by male factor infertility.
Male infertility is most commonly a function of problems with the sperm, men’s persistent little soldiers.
Maximizing the Arsenal
The quantity, motility, size and shape of these warriors can impact a man’s ability to conceive, and one’s fertility can also be impacted by an array of chronic conditions.
Boxers or briefs? It's pretty much your call.
Diabetes, which affects more than 25 million Americans, can be a cause of abnormal ejaculation. This happens because of poor sugar regulation, which can cause nerve damage, and surely includes the nerves that coordinate ejaculation.
Liver cirrhosis can also impact fertility: The condition is often associated with hormonal imbalances that can interfere with sperm production.
We believe that God decided to put the testes outside the body, rather than inside, to keep them cooler; it is four degrees warmer inside the abdomen, and sperm survive better in a cooler environment.
Perhaps God did not foresee global warming.
Whatever the explanation for this physical design, environmental exposures do mess with the production of viable sperm.
So do drugs including alcohol, marijuana, heroin and cocaine, which can all impact the quality and quantity of sperm.
Even some prescription drugs can interfere with normal production. Antibiotics, antacids and anti-depressants, as well as medications for blood pressure and gout, are just several on the long list of culprits.
Ditto, exposure to heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, which can also hamper the troops.
Ambushed at the Pass
Sometimes, sadly, a man’s fertility can be affected by things he cannot remedy, anticipate or avoid.
In some cases — often because of genetic issues or due to cystic fibrosis — a man can suffer from azoospermia, meaning there is no sperm detectable in the semen. It is thought to effect about one in every 100 men, and in some cases it’s reversable, or can be overcome through in vitro fertilization.
Testicular Cancer
I’m also referring to testicular cancer, the most prevalent type of cancer in men aged 15 through 35.
April is testicular cancer awareness month, so there is no better time to have this chat.
One of the upsides of testicular cancer is its high cure rate. With early detection and treatment, the vast majority of patients — 96% to 99% — can survive this diagnosis and stay cancer-free for five or many more years after.
On the downside, the treatments for testicular cancer can put your hopes of being a father to bed.
Typically, all testicular cancers — even more advanced cases — are treated with surgery. One of the big concerns weighing on every man, especially when headed into surgery, is how this will affect his life.
The good news is that the removal of a testicle has no effect on a man’s ability to get an erection or have sex.
The bad news: It may affect your ability to conceive children. With only one testicle, only half the sperm cells are being produced, decreasing fertility. If both testicles are removed, fertility declines to nonexistent.
Without the testicles to produce sperm cells, conception is not possible. Additionally, if both testicles have been removed due to cancer, testosterone levels decline and the side effects can be, well, deflating. They include loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, hot flashes and loss of muscle mass.
ONLY THE FACTS, MA’AM
Fertility can be impacted by so many variables, so if you are experiencing infertility, it is best to discuss your concerns with a qualified physician. Semen analysis is a critical step in the work-up of an infertile couple. The results of this analysis will greatly help narrow the possible causes. If your first specimen is not adequate or you suffer a “Meet the Parents” mishap, don’t be afraid to try again.
As with most sensitive health issues, myths and rumors regarding male infertility are commonplace. While some of these have truth behind them, not all of them are fact.
God decided to put the testes outside the body, rather than inside, to keep them cooler; it is four degrees warmer inside the abdomen.
One old wives’ tale, for instance, connects long bicycle rides with decreased sperm production. There’s no conclusive evidence that supports this.
Another common belief is that saunas can reduce fertility. This one, in fact, is true. Saunas and steam rooms increase body temperature to a level that stifles sperm production. For similar reasons, keeping your laptop on your lap can decrease fertility.
As far as battle tactics, make sure to protect your soldiers — deploy them only when there’s a target in sight.
Frequent sexual activity can lower your count, so slow it down for the first 10 days of your partner’s menstrual cycle and rev up the tank about a day before she begins ovulation (generally, around the 14th day). Stay away from lubricants, which can hamper your boys’ mobility.
One last point, and we’ll keep it brief.
Research has done little to settle the ongoing debate as to whether the type of underwear a guy wears, boxers or briefs, can impact his production of sperm.
Briefs are tighter, so it is logical to reason that wearing them can raise a man’s body temperature above the norm, thereby decreasing his sperm vitality.
By this logic, it would seem that boxers are the way to go.
This has yet to be scientifically proven, but there’s no harm in wearing loose clothing and staying out of hot tubs and saunas if you’re trying to start a family.
So now, you may be asking where I stand with this.
My choice? I’m probably going with the briefs. I’ll leave the boxers to Al Gore.
How about you? What's your preference? Will you change your style, or stick to your guns? Please feel free to comment below and let me know why. Also, if you have questions that I didn’t answer, feel free to ask them in the comment field and I’ll be glad to respond.