The trend towards using more laptop computers in public places and airports will continue to grow as wireless internet access “hot spots” proliferate. This year laptop use in the U.S. is projected to grow to 60 million users. Additionally, laptops are also increasing their heat output with ever-faster processing power. Which begs the question: are we staring at a potential cause of male infertility without even knowing it?

It is well known that healthy sperm are produced ideally at a testicular temperature of 2 – 4 ºC below body temperature. Established studies have revealed a considerable decline in healthy sperm production – up to 40 % – resulting from scrotal or testicular temperature increases as small as 1 ºC. A long-term decline in sperm quality over several decades has also been identified by at least seven research studies, although definitive causes have yet to be determined. Given this, it was only a matter of time before the connection between laptops and infertility would be examined.

As reported in Human Reproduction, Vol.2, 2005, a group of scientists at State University of New York, Stony Brook embarked upon a research study monitoring the scrotal temperature change in 29 healthy male volunteers, median age 24, from laptop computer use. The researchers used two different types of laptop computers and randomly measured their thermal effect on the scrotum by using right and left scrotal temperature gauges in two separate 60 minute sessions.

They recorded scrotal temperature increases averaging 2.6 – 2.8º C.

The heat emitted by the laptops appears to be a factor, but curiously not the solo factor. The researchers also directed the study participants to sit upright without the laptop, but with their knees tightly pressed together. After sitting this way for an hour, researchers recorded their scrotal temperature, which increased on average 2.1 ºC.

This initial study may prompt further research seeking a more definitive link between laptop use and infertility, or it simply may be added to the myriad considerations of exogenous scrotal heat exposure related to lifestyle. In this same category are prolonged driving and sedentary sitting. Naturally this study calls for prudent use of laptops by men trying to become fathers while weighing in on how modern life in all of its ramifications might be boosting scrotal temperature and causing an overall decline in sperm count.

Tags: Conception Health, Improving Your Pregnancy Rates, Male Infertility

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 10th, 2005 at 2:06 pm and is filed under Conception Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.