Tight briefs, red meat, varicose veins or stress? Which has been shown to actually reduce a man’s sperm count and lead to infertility?

Boxers or briefs? Many believe that the wrong answer to this question can lead to an increased risk of low sperm count or infertility. But are they right?

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Low sperm count is an uncomfortable subject for some men to discuss, which may be why so many urban legends have sprung up about its causes.

While many grow up hearing that drinking Mountain Dew or shunning boxers can create barriers to fatherhood later on, studies haven’t backed up those claims.

Meanwhile, a lesser-known condition that needs a doctor’s diagnosis often goes overlooked.

“The most common treatable cause of male factor infertility is called varicocele,” said Dr. Dan Williams, director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

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