Laptops may be fertility risk to men

madformac · #1 12-09-2004, 04:53 PM

OK, try to take this seriously and don't laugh!!! Well, alright, maybe a little in some places (scrotal hyperthermia?!?!

)

http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/09/tech...ex.htm?cnn=yes

LONDON (Reuters) - Teenagers and young men should keep their laptop computers off their laps because the machines could damage fertility, an expert said Thursday.

Laptops, which reach high internal operating temperatures, can heat up the scrotum which could affect the quality and quantity of men's sperm.

"The increase in scrotal temperature is significant enough to cause changes in sperm parameters," said Dr Yefim Sheynkin, an associate professor of urology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
"It is very difficult to predict how long the computer can be used safely," he told Reuters. "It may not be at all, if the testicular temperature goes up high within a very short period of time."

Adolescents and young men who use laptops several times a day over many years face the greatest risk. Sheynkin fears that if laptop use is not curtailed, in 15-20 years when they want to start a family the men could face problems.

"Long-term use may have a detrimental effect on their reproductive health," he said.

Sheynkin and his team studied the impact of using a laptop on 29 healthy volunteers between the age of 21-35 by measuring scrotal temperature before and after they used a computer on their lap.

The research is reported in the journal Human Reproduction.

Even without turning the laptop on, the scrotal temperature rose by 2.1 degrees Centigrade when the young men sat with their thighs together to balance the computer on their lap.

When they switched it on the temperature rose -- by 2.8 degrees C on the right side and 2.6 degrees C on the left.

"It shows that scrotal hyperthermia is produced by both special body posture and the local heating effect of laptop computers," Sheynkin said.

A serious case of laptop burn was reported in a letter published in a medical journal two years ago after a 50-year-old man burned his penis while using a laptop balanced on his legs for an hour, despite wearing trousers and underpants. (

)

The researchers used two different brands of computers in the study.

"All laptop computers generate significant heat due to the increasing power requirements of computer chips. New laptops with higher power requirements may produce even more heat," Sheynkin added

Interesting reading.... But who researches this stuff?

dissention · #2 12-09-2004, 04:54 PM

Can you imagine the risk that someone wearing briefs and putting a laptop on their lap is putting themselves in?

dissention · #3 12-09-2004, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madformac

Laptops, which reach high internal operating temperatures, can heat up the scrotum which could affect the quality and quantity of men's sperm.

That passage just makes me squirm with laughter.

What man ever gives second thought to the quality and quantity of their sperm?

madformac · #4 12-09-2004, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Can you imagine the risk that someone wearing briefs and putting a laptop on their lap is putting themselves in?

I wanna know who volunteers to take scrotal temperatures? I mean, it's not a vocation you want to mention chatting in Starbucks is it?

I'm sure it's very useful to have this knowledge, especially that the right side of things seems to get warmer

, but really? Can't they study something better?

dissention · #5 12-09-2004, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madformac

I wanna know who volunteers to take scrotal temperatures? I mean, it's not a vocation you want to mention chatting in Starbucks is it?

I'm sure it's very useful to have this knowledge, especially that the right side of thigs seems to get warmer

, but really? Can't they study something better?

Maybe it's something they ask you about at sperm banks. You know, an extra twenty if they can feel your testes for warmth.

estranged4life · #6 12-09-2004, 05:02 PM

I dont have a laptop, But my guitar does the same type damage when I rack myself in the jewels (Damn mahogany!!!) by forgetting to use the effin' strap

Brian j.

madformac · #7 12-09-2004, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estranged4life

I dont have a laptop, But my guitar does the same type damage when I rack myself in the jewels (Damn mahogany!!!) by forgetting to use the effin' strap

Brian j.

Just don't play the guitar naked Brian, there's a hell of a lot of tension in those steel strings if things were to get tangled..

estranged4life · #8 12-09-2004, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madformac

Just don't play the guitar naked Brian, there's a hell of a lot of tension in those steel strings if things were to get tangled..

I would never play guitar naked...Wouldnt want to make our cats have an asthma attack from laughter!

Brian j.

ryan8472 · #9 12-09-2004, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madformac

"It shows that scrotal hyperthermia is produced by both special body posture and the local heating effect of laptop computers," Sheynkin said.

A serious case of laptop burn was reported in a letter published in a medical journal two years ago after a 50-year-old man burned his penis while using a laptop balanced on his legs for an hour, despite wearing trousers and underpants.

OH.MY.GOD. I think I almost pissed my pants laughing so hard. I mean, that would suck and all, but damn that's hilarious when it happens to someone else!

I guess it's a good thing I don't have a laptop?

ryan8472 · #10 12-09-2004, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

That passage just makes me squirm with laughter.

What man ever gives second thought to the quality and quantity of their sperm?

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I have very high quality sperm."

I have no shame anymore

dissention · #11 12-09-2004, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan8472

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I have very high quality sperm."

I have no shame anymore

"This right here is Grade-A sperm, not that Z-Grade crap that Harry down the street likes to dispense."

sparky · #12 12-09-2004, 07:25 PM

Anything to get the birth rate down, that's what I say.

Scrotal Temperature sounds like an awesome name for a band.

ontheEdgeof17 · #13 12-09-2004, 07:36 PM

Now, what man would put a lap top on their lap?!?!?! It's so much harder to masterbate to porn that way. I don't see this as a fertility problem 'cuz it just doesn't happen.

estranged4life · #14 12-09-2004, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparky

Anything to get the birth rate down, that's what I say.

Scrotal Temperature sounds like an awesome name for a band.

I guess if there was a band named Scrotal Temperature then their fans would be known as either the Nuts or the Dicks???!!!

DeeGeMe · #15 12-09-2004, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan8472

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I have very high quality sperm."

So where the hell were you guys at with your high-quality sperm when I was in my prime child-bearing years???? Huh? Huh?

What? Why yes, I was using as many forms of birth control as possible not to get pregnant in those child-bearing years but now dammit, at 40, I think I might have made a mistake by not ever having had a kid. Oh well. . .

for those gentlemen among you who are concerned about preserving your fertility---Targus has just come out with this neat little "chill pad" that you sit your laptop in (it plugs into the PC via a USB connection). It's lightweight and has two internal fans that keep your laptop (and your lap) nice and cool. It's also pretty cheap--I got mine for under $30 at Target.

It seems that not only will warm laptops do a number of your high-quality sperm, it will also shorten the life of your laptop (not your actual laptop but your PC). Something about the excessive heat wearing out the internal components of the PC faster.