Fertility Problems and Electronics Use: Is Your Laptop Making You Sterile?

When a guy thinks about keeping an eye on his penis health, he usually concentrates on the basics, such as paying attention to washing his penis regularly, checking for signs of dry penis skin or infections, wearing clothing that isn’t too constricting in the crotch and the like. All of that is important. But sometimes things that can potentially affect penis health may not be so obvious. One such issue has been in the news in recent years: the possible effects that electronics can have on penis health, especially where sperm is concerned. With the rise in popularity of personal consumer electronics, this is something that worries a lot of men. Is there a reason to be worried?

The issue

Worries about modern electronics and their impact on sperm have been around for a long time. For example, when microwave ovens first became popular, there were many people who warned that men should stay away from them, as the "leaking" microwaves might "cook" their sperm, rendering that sperm useless and possibly causing a man to become sterile. This belief has since died down, although many still worry about the effects that microwaved food may have on fertility.

So it’s no wonder that as computers and cell phones have become ubiquitous that there would be questions about their safety to people’s health - including what impact there might be on a dude’s sperm. Because so many men keep their cell phones in their front pockets, where they are in close proximity to the testicles, this question has become more important. And now with laptops, which as the name implies tend to rest directly on the lap and therefore on top of the testicles, the question has become even more urgent.

Cell phones

In recent years, studies have indicated a significant decrease in male fertility in Western countries, with one study finding sperm concentrations having shrunk by half between 1973 and 2011. Several studies have looked at whether the rise of cell phone use could be a contributing factor to this issue, including a 2014 study from the Central European Journal of Urology. This study took semen samples from 32 healthy men and then divided each sample into an A group and a B group. The group B samples were exposed to a cell phone in standby mode for 5 hours. When compared, the B group had greater DNA fragmentation and a decrease in sperm motility. (Motility describes how well sperm moves, which is important in a sperm’s ability to reach an egg.)

Laptops

Another study, this one from Fertility and Sterility, was similar to the cell phone study mentioned above. Semen samples were taken from 29 healthy men and divided into A and B groups, with one group exposed to Wi-Fi for four hours. The results were similar to the earlier study, with greater DNA fragmentation and a decrease in sperm motility for the Wi-Fi-exposed group.

Not conclusive

Neither study is conclusive, and there are flaws with both. For example, there may be a difference between the ways that sperm reacts to cell phone or Wi-Fi exposure in the testicles as opposed to post-ejaculation in a dish. Still, the early data does suggest that there could be a link between electronics and sperm quality. With that in mind, men may want to take steps to limit their exposure to these instruments. Carrying a cell phone in a backpack or in a back pocket may help; setting a laptop on a desk or table rather than on the lap may also be beneficial.

Penis health extends beyond sperm quality, of course, so men need to daily apply a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) . For best results, the crème should include a potent antioxidant, such as alpha lipoic acid, which can fight damaging oxidative stress. If the crème also boasts L-carnitine, a man will receive extra protection against loss of sensation in the penis due to rough handling.