Scorched scrotums: Is your laptop cooking your testicles?

[Dave (imported)]

>>

>>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40034091/ns ... ns_health/

Scorched scrotums: Is your laptop cooking your testicles?

Scientists warn of sterility concerns after testing temperatures of nether regions

Reuters

updated 11/5/2010 6:06:56 PM ET 2010-11-05T22:06:56

Whoever invented the 'laptop' probably didn't worry too much about male reproductive health.

Turns out that sitting with a computer on your lap will crank up the temperature of your nether regions, which could affect sperm quality.

And there is little you can do about it, according to the authors of a study out today in the journal Fertility and Sterility, short of putting your laptop on a desk.

The researchers hooked thermometers to the scrotums of 29 young men who were balancing a laptop on their knees. They found that even with a lap pad under the computer, the men's scrotums overheated quickly.

"Millions and millions of men are using laptops now, especially those in the reproductive age range," said Dr. Yefim Sheynkin, a urologist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, who led the new study.

"Within 10 or 15 minutes their scrotal temperature is already above what we consider safe, but they don't feel it," he added.

So far, no studies have actually tested how laptops impact men's fertility, said Sheynkin, and there is no bulletproof evidence that it would. But earlier research has shown that warming the scrotum more than one degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) is enough to damage sperm.

Under normal circumstances, the testicles' position outside of the body makes sure they stay a few degrees cooler than the inside of the body, which is necessary for sperm production.

"I wouldn't say that if someone starts to use laptops they will become infertile," Sheynkin told Reuters Health. But frequent use might contribute to reproductive problems, he said, because "the scrotum doesn't have time to cool down."

According to the American Urological Association, nearly one in six couples in the US have trouble conceiving a baby, and about half the time the man is at the root of the problem.

They have more at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40034091/ns ... ns_health/

[punkypink (imported)]

Little one can do about it? Cooling plates work a treat, especially those that conduct heat away with both convection and conduction principles.

What would be extra helpful in this case would be if the laptop was a rear venting exhaust one rather than a downward venting exhaust one.

[Twinsenboy (imported)]

I did have a feeling it wasn't good for the balls to have such heat right above them so I stopped doing that. It's nice to get stuff like this confirmed! Thanks for the warning;-)

[stewie69 (imported)]

The real question is, does it permanently damage the testicles, or just the current batch of sperm?

[chemcast scot (imported)]

Now that is an interesting question are we now finding a way to damage our testicles:D

[A-1 (imported)]

Now that is an interesting question are we now finding a way to damage our testicles:D

Yeah, like the formaldehyde in the jar they are floating in wouldn't do it...

But HEY!

Some may still have 'em. Do it for our sake...

[Losethem (imported)]

In order for my laptop to damage my testicles I'd need to still have testicles, right?

[Riverwind (imported)]

In order for my laptop to damage my testicles I'd need to still have testicles, right?

LOL I am with you, if my laptop is in my lap it has no effect on my testicles because they are in a nice glass jar in the other room.

River

[jemagirl (imported)]

Given the current size of the human population... maybe this isn't such a bad thing.

[punkypink (imported)]

In order for my laptop to damage my testicles I'd need to still have testicles, right?

This post wins.