Male Fertility and Laptops

While there are many issues involving conception of a child, one of the issues causing the most "buzz" is male fertility and laptops. A recent study has been conducted by researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook that looks into the debate.

Laptops can affect male fertility

Dr. Yefim Sheynkin, leader of the team, pursued this study as a result of a student's question. The student told Sheynkin that laptop computers often operate at an internal temperature exceeding 70 degrees Celsius. Knowing that heat has an impact on male fertility, the student asked how that amount of heat would affect a man who holds a laptop on his lap for long periods of a time. Sheynkin thought it was a question worth answering.

Sheynkin led the study conducted with 29 otherwise healthy males, ranging in age from 21 to 35 years of age. At onset of the experiment, each man was introduced into a room with a temperature of 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Their body temperatures were taken after having been in the room for 15 minutes, giving them proper time to acclimate to the room. After this, each participant was given a nonworking or a working laptop.

The nonworking laptops were removed from the men after a bit, but the men were asked to retain the same posture for the rest of the one-hour session. The men given the working laptops were asked to retain that position with the laptops on their laps for the entire session.

Each man's scrotal temperature was recorded every three minutes. The men who had working laptops experienced nearly a 5-degree increase in scrotal temperature. The men with nonworking laptops also experienced an increase in scrotal temperature, though it was not as much as the other group. They experienced an increase of 3 to 4 degrees.

While it cannot be fully determined if utilizing a laptop computer on one's knees and lap decreases sperm quality, count, or production, common sense says there may be some link between male fertility and laptops.

Another study has indicated that a 40 percent decrease in sperm concentration has been recorded as a result of scrotal temperature increasing by 1 to 2 degrees.

Sheynkin explains that sperm production depends on the male body maintaining a regular testicular temperature. The study showed that both the heat from the laptop and the position men use to hold the laptop create increased scrotal temperatures. Scientific research has proven that scrotal hyperthermia can cause clinical subfertility (decreased fertility) in men.

As a result of this study, Sheynkin encourages men to use their laptops as something other than laptops. While it's not proven indecisively that laptops can cause decreased fertility, he says it may cause irreversible or only partially reversible changes in the male reproductive cycle. He says the study and the issue merit more research.

Men should find another location for their laptops when they're going to be using them for long periods of time or when using them repeatedly. This study seems to indicate that male fertility and laptops do have a relationship.

Men's fertility levels are affected by heat. Scientific research has proven that in the past. That's why men involved in a relationship where fertility seems to be an issue are cautioned to limit time spent in saunas, hot tubs, hot baths, or from wearing tight, warm pants.

Additionally, this is not going to affect men who only rarely put their laptops on their lap. This study pertains to the man who does this repeatedly, several times a day, several days a week.

Anytime fertility is an issue, contact your doctor. Until contacting a physician, you won't know what the problem or issue might be. Your physician can help you to increase fertility chances by suggesting lifestyle changes or by prescribing medicine. According to statistics, between 15 to 20 percent of couples won't be able to conceive. Many times the fertility issue is experienced by the man.

While this may sound like an issue dreamed up by those same people who tell you not to use cell phones because they'll give you brain cancer, this is deeply rooted in scientific research. It hasn't been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, yet. All the facts make sense, though. It only seems smart to take this seriously when examining fertility issues. It doesn't take much effort to move your laptop to a desk or tabletop, or to ask your husband or boyfriend to move it from his lap. It's not a major lifestyle change. If there's a possibility it helps with fertility and increases your chances of conception, take advantage of it.

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