Getting pregnant isn’t always easy – it’s estimated that one in ten couples are infertile. Of those cases, about 30% are the result of male fertility factors. That means, if you’re trying for a baby, you have to make sure you’re taking care of those sperm!
The biggest problem for sperm is heat. They do best at a balmy 75 degrees – that’s why the male testes are kept outside of the human body’s cozy 98.6 degree interior. Does that mean switching to from briefs to boxers will solve an infertility problem? Probably not, at least not if you have a normal sperm count.
“Boxers are better than briefs, if a man’s sperm count is on the low side. But it probably has little effect if the sperm count is normal,” Dr. Hal Danzer, a Los Angeles fertility specialist told AOL Health.
What does have considerable effect are hot tubs. According to a study completed in 2007, even 30 minutes of “wet heat” can temporarily decrease sperm production. The effects can be reversed, but it takes a shocking three to six months to get sperm counts back to where they once were after exposure to hot tubs or jacuzzis has been limited.
Laptops are also a hazard to these heat sensitive little guys. Laptop use can increase temperatures in the region in question up to 35 degrees in some positions. That’s not a great for anyone’s health, at anytime, but particularly when trying for a baby.
Obesity, too much alcohol and too many cigarettes, and too much cell phone time are also on the list of fertility don’ts. Basically, treat your sperm (or your partner’s sperm) with respect, and they’ll do the same for you!
