Doctors warn against hot showers, electric blankets, and tight briefs for sperm health

With the colder weather here, the fertility experts at TFP Fertility have revealed four ways your sperm health could be affected this winter.

Justin Chu, Medical Director at TFP Oxford Fertility said: “Men should avoid anything that will overheat their scrotums. With winter coming, remember to not enjoy car seat warmers or warm baths too much! Regular ejaculation to ensure the sperm is kept healthy in each ejaculate is also vital.

“I tend to advise men to ensure they are getting regular exercise and a balanced whole-food diet to optimise sperm health. Ultra-processed food should be avoided along with smoking, vaping and excess alcohol and caffeine.”

Wear boxers over briefs to help improve sperm count by 25%

While socks and underwear are usually ideal stocking fillers, it’s important to be wearing the correct set. 

Loose-fitting boxers and baggier pants are recommended for those trying to improve their sperm count, as it allows the sperm to be cooler and freer. Ball pouch boxers have seen a big increase on social media, with Google Trends seeing a 31% increase in worldwide search volume. However, it’s important to make sure you’re not overheating your testicles with tight fitting clothing. The ideal temperature for sperm production is around 34-35 degrees, a few degrees lower than body temperature.

A study by Harvard University found that men who wore boxers had a 25% higher sperm percentage than those who wore tight fitting underwear. 

Avoid hot showers in winter, as sperm are sensitive to temperature 

After a cold day, there’s nothing better than a hot shower, but keeping the testicles at the right temperature may help with male fertility, as sperm are sensitive to warm and cold temperature variations. 

Men should avoid very hot showers. On average, the optimum temperature to have your water is between 37-41 degrees when bathing. Anything more than this can affect your body’s temperature, as well as causing damage to your skin and hair if done frequently.

For your sperm health, however, colder showers are thought to improve the quality and movement of your sperm, as ideal sperm production levels are a few degrees lower than body temperature. This is due to the testes preferring a colder environment, which is why they are sited outside the body in the scrotum.

It’s best to avoid extreme temperatures, hot or cold, to improve your sperm production. 

Prolonged use of an electric blanket could cause your testicles to overheat

We’ve spoken about the heat of your testicles in relation to sperm production, and using an electric blanket for long periods of time could also impact this. 

On a cold winter's night, it might be tempting to reach for an electric heated blanket, but as your testicle temperature likes to be a few degrees lower than body temperature, overusing this could cause a slowdown in sperm production.

Justin Chu, Medical Director at TFP Oxford Fertility commented on heat damage related to sperm: “Sperm production should return to normal after prolonged heat, sustained in hot showers or overuse of electricals such as heated blankets.  While some researchers say it can take around one week for your sperm to return to its usual function, other studies have suggested a longer period of around two months. The actual timeframe is unknown and could depend on the individual.”

Reduce alcohol intake this Christmas and eat certain foods - such as vegetables and fish

While a lot of people enjoy a tipple at Christmas, reducing the amount of alcohol consumption or turning to alcohol-free options can help improve fertility. 

Alcohol can impair the testicles' function, hindering sperm development and reducing the sperm's ability to move effectively towards the egg. It's also said that excessive amounts of alcohol can lower sperm count and even affect sperm’s DNA, meaning reduced sperm quality.

While thinking of comfort food after a cold day, foods such as vegetables - spinach and asparagus - as well as fish, can all carry important vitamins and minerals for your body. Following a balanced diet and doing regular moderate exercise can help with increasing sperm count.