Laptops Pose Damage To Male Sexual Health by Dr. Drai

Hello, #MomentumLovers. It's me, Dr. Drai, talking about sex and sexual health to keep you safe, happy, and healthy. #MomentumMen - did you know that laptops can pose a danger to male sexual health if not used properly? WELL..it is a very interesting and alarming fact.

Living the 21st lifestyle would not be complete without electronic gadgets that prove just how much technology has changed the way we live.  With the growing popularity of computers, it is no surprise that researchers have embarked on a study to determine the potential damage if any, that frequent use of laptops may cause a man's sexual health and fertility. Recent findings by the State University of New York have shown that men who frequently use laptop computers could be unwittingly damaging their fertility.

A laptop computer, or simply laptop or notebook, is a small mobile computer that usually runs on a single main battery or from an external AC/DC adapter which can charge the battery while also supplying power to the computer itself.  This very useful office and entertainment tool is now being examined so that the public may be forewarned about the potential hazards of long-term use.

 Researchers found that when a man balances the said equipment it on his lap, it increases the temperature of the scrotum which is known to have a negative effect on sperm production, and may cause scrotal hyperthermia.  Since the function of the scrotum is to keep the testes at a temperature slightly lower than that of the rest of the human body, an increase in scrotal temperature can damage sperm production and development. Scrotal hyperthermia has been identified as a risk factor for male infertility. 

 According to Dr. Yefim Sheynkin, lead researcher from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, laptops can reach internal operating temperatures of over 70 degrees C --- a temperature that is harmful to live sperm.

 They are frequently positioned close to the scrotum, and as well as being capable of producing direct local heat, they require the user to sit with his thighs close together to balance the machine, which traps the scrotum between the thighs.

 Researchers also say that the body needs to maintain a proper testicular temperature for normal sperm production and development, or what is termed as spermatogenesis. Their studies have not determined the exact frequency and time of heat exposure that is capable of producing reversible or irreversible changes in spermatogenesis. But previous studies made suggest that 1 degree C above the baseline is the possible minimal thermal gradient. Based on their findings, the repetitive use of a laptop near the proximity of the male pelvic area might cause permanent damage and infertility. 

 Teenage boys and young men are advised to limit their use of laptop computers on their laps until further studies provide more information on this type of thermal exposure. 

Thank you for reading this #MomentumLovers! As always...I'm Dr. Drai a board-certified OBGYN, sexual health expert, and founder of Momentum Intimacy. Through my FDA-approved condom & lubricant line called Momentum, I help people improve their intimacy and have a more satisfying sex life.