The effect of different types of textile underpants on sexual activity
was studied in 50 men. Ail the subjects were potent and sexually acti
ve. They were divided into 5 equal groups: 4 test and 1 control. Each
of the 4 test groups were dressed in one type of textile underpants ma
de of either 100% polyester, 50/50% polyester/cotton mix, 100% cotton,
or 100% wool. Sexual behavior was assessed before and after 6 and 12
months of wearing the pants, and 6 months after their removal. Behavio
ral response was rated as potent if the subject's penis became erect,
entered the vagina, and ejaculated. The rate of potent intromission (I
) to mounts (M) (I/M ratio) was determined. The electrostatic potentia
ls (EP) generated on the penis and scrotum were measured by an electro
static kilovolt-meter. The I/M ratio at 6 and 12 months of wearing the
polyester and polyester/cotton mix pants was significantly reduced co
mpared to the pretest levels and the controls (p < .001). The reductio
n was more manifest in the pure polyester than in the polyester/cotton
mix group, and at the 12-month than at the 6-month examination. The I
/M ratio of the cotton and wool groups showed insignificant changes du
ring the study period. Six months after removal of the underpants, the
I/M ratio had returned to the pretest levels in the two groups that h
ad worn polyester-containing pants. The polyester-containing pants gen
erated EP, which may induce electrostatic fields in the intrapenile st
ructures and could explain the diminished sexual activity. The cotton
and wool textiles did not generate EP. Thus, polyester underpants coul
d have an injurious effect on human sexual activity.