Are you killing your sperm?
Written by Katelyn Dingman
Photo by Megan Verhey
In the past decade there has been a major shift away from desktop computers. Students recognize the convenience of the laptop computer as its compact design allows for it to be easily carried to wherever it need be required. Many individuals however fail to recognize how laptop computers can be detrimental to one’s health.
There have been strong concerns among Canadian health professionals regarding potential health effects associated with laptop usage including minor burns, negative affects in posture, eyesight and fertility, particularly male fertility.
Naturopathic Doctor at the University of Guelph Health and Performance Center, Jennifer Hillier offered insight into the negative effects laptop usage can have on male fertility.
“If you’re using a laptop sitting right on the lap, heat is coming in right by the scrotum and when you heat up the testicles that causes problems with the making of sperm,” said Hillier.
In a recent study done in the journal of Fertility and Sterility, researchers used thermometers on 29 healthy male volunteers who had a laptop placed on their knees. Researchers found that when the males knees were together with the laptop balanced on top, it took 28 minutes for the scrotum’s temperature to increase by nearly two degrees Fahrenheit.
Although research is currently focused on the short-term effects laptop usage can have on male fertility, Hillier believes that long-term laptop usage may also have long-term effects.
“It can impact fertility in the short-term, but also now they’re thinking that the long-term heating up of the scrotum can cause long-term infertility.”
Eyes are also a major concern when focusing on negative health impacts of using a laptop computer.
“Because there are backlights it is not natural for eyes to be able to focus on computer screens for a long period of time. People will spend excessive periods of time staring at a light screen that can really impact the eyes’ ability to focus long term,” said Hillier. “A really easy way of avoiding that would be to look up into the distance every couple of minutes.”
Using a laptop computer for an excessive amount of time has been known to cause mild migraine headaches as your eyes strain to focus on the screen.
“When you’re looking at a computer screen your eyes are fixed in one place and the pupils are kept dilated to a specific diameter and therefore it becomes straining on those muscles,” said Hillier.
Laptops have been known to cause minor burns and skin irritations on the legs, the stomach and genital area as a result of their compact size and inability to regulate heat.
“Laptops generate a lot of heat because there’s not a lot of space within the computer casing whereas in a desktop you have a lot of fans going and a lot of space where the heat can build up and dissipate through the fans,” said Hillier.
Posture is another concern when looking at laptop usage. Using a laptop on the lap encourages bad posture or slouching. While this may not seem to be an issue of great concern, long-term unproper usage of a laptop computer can result in serious injury.
Chiropractor, Dr. Adriano Persi addressed some of the concerns regarding the negative affects laptop computers have on individual’s posture.
“In the long term it can result in spinal pain, neck pain and shoulder pain.”
In order to avoid these long term issues that arise when improperly using a laptop we must not only be conscious of what we are doing to our bodies, but we must also take action while recognizing the proper way in which to sit and engaging in exercises to avoid muscle constraint.
“We have to be conscious; I think it’s probably the most important thing and we have to realize that what we do although it may be comfortable in the short-term, but in the long-term it can result in problems,” said Persi.
Persi suggested some exercises to promote good posture.
“Specifically to counter the effects of computer use I suggest anything that’ll promote extensor activity which can be easily addressed by walking briskly and with a view to good posture and core stabilization,” said Persi. “Yoga can address both of these aspects and has the added benefit of helping with concentration.”
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