OBJECTIVE
To determine whether application of polyester-lined athletic supports to bring the testes closer to the abdomen increases scrotal temperature and decreases sperm production.
DESIGN
Prospective clinical study.
SETTING
University academic medical center.
PATIENT(S)
Twenty-one healthy male volunteers.
INTERVENTION(S)
The study consisted of a pretreatment period of 6 weeks, a treatment phase of 52 weeks, and a recovery phase until return to normal sperm production. During the treatment phase, the men wore polyester-lined athletic supports (single layer, double layer, or double layer impregnated with aluminum) throughout the day.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Semen parameters and sperm function tests.
RESULT(S)
In all three groups of subjects, scrotal temperature was consistently increased by 0.8 to 1 degree C while the subjects were wearing the athletic supports. Mean sperm concentration; sperm motility, morphology, and viability; sperm hyperactivation; and ability of spermatozoa to penetrate zone-free hamster oocytes were not affected by the increase in scrotal temperature.
CONCLUSION(S)
The increase in scrotal temperature induced by polyester-lined athletic supports was insufficient to cause significant suppression of spermatogenesis or alteration of sperm function.