Baby-Making Secrets You Should Know

It's true: cooler temperatures can raise a man's sperm count. For years, wannabe dads have been urged to wear boxers and avoid hot tubs, while some men rub an ice cube around their testicles for a few minutes before intercourse or spend a few minutes a day sitting on an ice pack for a couple of weeks before their partners ovulate.

Too cool for comfort? Keep in mind that it takes a minimum of two months for sperm counts to rise in response to cooler temperatures—and a 1997 study conducted at Los Angeles Medical Center discovered no difference between the sperm counts of men wearing close-fitting underwear and those who favored boxers.

Bottom line: If you want to hedge your bets, go for the boxers—but you may want to bypass the ice!