Excessive laptop use linked to infertility

Many men do not know that sitting for a long time and excessive use of laptops could have serious effects on their fertility levels. Experts say there are salient factors that may contribute to infertility

“An optimum temperature of between 35 and 36 degree Celsius is needed to produce healthy sperm and so conditions that raise the temperature would not ensure production of quality sperm
in moderation.” Mean


LAPTOPS are becoming increasingly common among young men wired into to the latest technology, but the heat from these computers can affect sperm production and development, making it difficult for them to father a child later in life
LAPTOPS Experts have said habits like placing a laptop on one’s lap can cause damage to the sperm and as such more attention be paid to its excessive use, especially in young men
The combination of heat generated by the computers and the posture needed to balance the
equipment on the lap, leads to raised temperatures around the scrotum. Men naturally sit with their legs further apart to keep the testicles at an ideal temperature and for greater comfort
However, when working on a laptop, they will adopt a less natural position in order to balance it on their laps, which results in a significant rise in body heat between their thighs

While fatherhood might be far from the minds of most young men, experts said that behaviour patterns that were established early on and exposure to chemicals that are toxic to sperm production may impact their ability to become a dad later in life
The finding published in the journal, Human Reproduction involved 29 volunteers aged 21 to 35
It found that sitting with the thighs together to balance a laptop caused scrotal temperatures to rise by 2.1C
But when the laptop was in use, average temperatures rose by 2.6C on the left of the scrotum and 2.8C on the right

The study found that within the first 15 minutes of using a laptop, scrotal temperatures had increased by 1C (33.8F)
Even though experts do not know the exact frequency and time of heat exposure that would lead to reversible or irreversible changes to sperm, they pointed out that frequent use of laptops over years without sufficient recovery time between exposures may cause irreversible or partially reversible changes in male reproductive function
a doctor, an urologist said there were lots of toxic pollutants and chemical substances that could affect body tissues, including sperm quality and production
According to him, the testes are organs that produce rapidly dividing
cells and in the course of doing this, exposure to environmental toxins and chemical substances that affect cell division can affect it, causing some genetic changes in the cells
He declared, “Things like smoking, use of hard drugs, coffee intake and alcohol had been implicated in infertility in men. My approach to them in the management of patients with infertility problem is to preach moderation in their usage. We do not yet have conclusive evidences or causatives and effect type of research linking these substances to infertility problems and so the best way out is for them to do all
in moderation.” Another doctor in his own view, said there was no need doubting the fact that too high a temperature in the genitals of a man, will affect his fertility level
“The testes are actually outside the body to reduce the effect of heat on them. You will find that in a cold environment, the testicles shrink and go further into the body, whereas in the warm environment, this may not be so,” he explained
An optimum temperature of between 35 and 36 degree Celsius is needed to produce healthy sperm
and so conditions that raise the temperature would not ensure production of quality sperm
Meanwhile there are evidences to backup the fact that sperm counts have dropped by almost a third in a decade and that about 40 per cent of fertility issues are attributed to males. Infertility is already a major health problem in both the developed and developing world, with up to one in six couples requiring specialist investigation or treatment in order to conceive. The reasons are unclear, but drug use alcohol, smoking and obesity are factors. Pesticides chemicals, diseases like diabetes and radioactive material have also been linked to decreases in fertility Scientists found that sperm from diabetic men have greater levels of DNA damage than sperm from men who do not have the disease. Sperm DNA damage impairs male fertility and reproductive health
Dr Ishola Agbaje, a research fellow in the Reproductive Medicine Research Group at Queen’s University, Belfast looking at the implication of diabetes on infertility problem in men said that “the increasing incidence of systemic diseases such as diabetes may further exacerbate this decline in male fertility.” A possible relationship between men’s diets and the quality of their semen has long been a discussion point, too. There are evidences that suggested that intake of fruits and vegetables can help preserve semen quality. Spanish researchers declared that men who eat large amounts of meat and full fat dairy products have lower seminal quality than those who eat more fruit, vegetables and reduced fat dairy products
The study was carried out among 61 men, 30 of whom had reproductive problems, while the remaining 31 acted as controls. Among the couples with fertility problems coming to the clinic, the men with good semen quality ate more vegetables and fruit (more vitamins, folic acid and fibre and less proteins and fats) than those men with low seminal quality
Chemical exposure also causes male infertility According to a research carried out by scientists from the Universities of Sheffield and Manchester, men working as painters and decorators who are exposed to solvents such as glycol ether have a 2.5 fold increased risk of having a low motile sperm count compared to men with low exposure

In additional to chemical exposure men who had undergone previous surgery at the testicles or who undertook manual work were more likely to have low motile sperm counts, whereas men who drank alcohol regularly or wore boxer shorts were more likely to have better semen quality

Meanwhile, existing research into male fertility by some experts has recommended tips to protect fertility
These include: •Avoiding hot tubs •Wearing boxers instead of briefs •Exercising moderately (one hour, three to five times per week) to avoid excessive weight gain •Avoiding exercise that can generate heat or trauma to the genital area •Eating well and having good night rest •Staying hydrated and limiting caffeine to no more than two cups per day •Refraining from smoking