8 Surprising Facts About Male Infertility

From riding bikes to wearing tighty whities and, ironically, using sex toys, there are lots of rumors and myths surrounding male infertility. So you might find the reality a bit shocking (we did!). PS: When you’re done reading, show this article to your guy — male infertility is just as likely to be the reason a couple is having trouble conceiving, even though female infertility gets the most lip service.

Bikes Aren’t Bad for Below

You’ve probably heard the rumors that bikes can do damage to his nether regions, but there’s actually not much truth to this one. One small study from Austria found that male mountain bikers may experience more infertility from scrotal damage caused by jolting over rough terrain — but the study only looked at men who logged at least 3,000 miles a year (that’s an average of two-plus hours a day, six days a week), which is pretty extreme. Plus, the study concluded that the bike’s narrow, racing-type seats were to blame and that using newer, wider seats with cutout holes was a safe solution. The study’s limited findings have been widely criticized in the medical community, and according to Karen Boyle, MD, FACS, director of Reproductive Medicine & Surgery, Sexuality and Aesthetics at Chesapeake Urology Associates and clinical instructor of urology at George Washington University School of Medicine, there is no strong data to support the idea that cycling is bad for fertility. So even if your partner is the Lance Armstrong of mountain biking, you don’t need to ban bikes. In fact, cycling is a great form of exercise, and staying healthy and fit is key for fertility.

Saunas and Hot Tubs Are Trouble

While many men like to follow their workout with a relaxing hot tub or sauna session, if you’re trying for a baby, ask your man to skip both, says Boyle. Exposure to the high temperatures in saunas and hot tubs can heat things up down there, and if the temperature of the testicles gets too high, it can kill sperm and interfere with sperm production, potentially resulting in low sperm count and motility (read: There won’t be so many of those swimmers, and they won’t move so well). The damage isn’t permanent, though, so tell your guy he can go back to his regular routine as soon as you see a positive on that pregnancy test.

Boxers Are Best

The answer to the boxers vs. briefs debate? Well, if you’re trying to conceive, it actually doesn’t matter. “Men should wear whatever they feel most comfortable in,” insists Boyle, who says there’s no conclusive evidence to support the idea that tight underwear or pants could do damage by squishing a guy’s man parts or increasing scrotal temperature.

Laptops Can Burn More Than Just Your Lap

Considering laptops can get hot enough to burn their legs, guys might want to keep them away from the crown jewels too. There’s evidence that just like in hot tubs and saunas, the heat from a laptop can raise scrotal temperature, which, again, may interfere with sperm production. While not all experts agree that laptops can cause infertility, Boyle says that if you’re trying to conceive, you may want to keep the laptop on a table or desk just to be safe.