Heat negatively impacts your fertility by reducing the number of sperm produced and their ability to move (don’t we all get sluggish on hot days?). It is not enough to just keep those balls cool right before intercourse, as sperm take 70 days to mature.

“A lot of the questions I had were pretty basic like, does heat or tight clothing have anything to do with it? There was never one definitive answer, you know? … It would have just been nice to know like what are the best steps to take and what things should I avoid you know and I found that a lot of the answers were just everywhere.” (Fertility patient, 34)

Here are some things that can heat up your balls:

Netflix and chill

DID YOU KNOW?
Putting your laptop on your lap creates a little oven for your balls. After 11 minutes, the temperature of your scrotum can increase by 1 degree Celsius. That heat may negatively impact your sperm production by making your sperm sluggish (poor sperm motility) and affecting the genetic makeup, or DNA, of your sperm.
  • Streaming movies and surfing the internet often means that you’ll be using Wi-Fi, but the Wi-Fi signals may affect the motility of your sperm and their DNA.
  • The best way to prevent your sperm from getting fried is by placing your laptop on a desk, chair or anywhere but directly on your lap.
    • Should I get a lap desk? While lap desks help to create a barrier between your balls and the laptop, some desks are better than others at shielding the heat and electromagnetic waves caused by the Wi-Fi connection. Look for one that:
      • Contains a fan.
      • Allows a bit of elevation so that there is space between the desk and your balls.
  • Cool off by engaging in the manspread (just make sure to close those legs when using public transit). Spreading your legs can help your balls cool off.
  • Get up and walk. While not ideal for a movie night with a date, you should get up and walk every 30 minutes or so. This gives your guys some time to cool down.

I’m a man. My front pocket is my purse

We get it. You don’t have a man purse, and your cell phone fits in your pocket nicely. But did you know you may be roasting your balls?

  • Putting your cell phone in your front pocket brings the signals to the place where they can do the most harm to your sperm.
  • Cell phones can also create extra heat.

Know where it would fit better? In your coat pocket! (Or maybe even in your backpack).

Boxers or briefs

  • What you’re wearing under there can impact your balls.
DID YOU KNOW?
Recent research explains how briefs affect fertility. Briefs keep your scrotum closer to your body, where it absorbs more body heat. This negatively impacts sperm production. Compared to men who wear briefs, men who wear boxers have higher levels of sperm concentration in their semen. While wearing briefs may not cause infertility, if you’re trying to conceive, consider switching to boxers. Read more about why it might be time to switch to boxers.

Hot tubs

  • Taking a dip? Hot tubs are not great for your sperm because of excessive heat exposure. While a dip once in a while won’t make you infertile, it will lower your sperm production. If you’re trying to conceive, get out of the hot tub and try the pool instead.
    • Other sources of heat to avoid include saunas and steam rooms. Keep those balls cool.

Biking and fertility

  • Biking is a great form of exercise but sitting on that seat for too long can affect the number and quality of your sperm. Biking puts pressure on your balls and can also make them too hot.
  • The risks from bicycling are short term. However, if you’re having problems conceiving, it might be a good time to try some other type of exercise.
  • If you do continue cycling, try buying a softer seat and wearing loose shorts. Riding for shorter periods of time (about 30 minutes) can also help lessen the negative effects on sperm.