Young men who are wired now could end up infertile later because of heat their laptops generate, says a reproductive specialist at Loyola University Health System.
That heat can "impact sperm production and development making it difficult to conceive down the road," said Dr. Suzanne Kavic, MD, director of the division of reproductive endocrinology at the university and associate professor at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. "However,
Kavic recommends placing laptops on tops to prevent damaging sperm and decreasing counts and motility. Other tips to protect male fertility include:
Avoiding hot tubs
Using boxers over briefs
Refraining from ejaculating too frequently (the recommendation is to engage in sexual intercourse only every other day around ovulation)
Exercising moderately (one hour, three to five times a week)
Avoiding exercise that can generate heat or trauma to the genital area
Eating well
Taking a daily multivitamin
Getting eight hours of sleep a night
Staying hydrated and limiting caffeine to no more than two cups a day
Refraining from smoking
Avoiding drugs and excessive alcohol use
Minimizing exposure to toxins
Avoiding excessive weight gain or weight loss
Practicing stress reduction techniques
Four-fifths of fertility issues are attributed to males.
Other leading causes of male infertility include varicocoeles, or enlarged varicose veins in the scrotum. This condition can raise the temperature in the testicles and damage or kill sperm. Other reasons include genital injuries or defects, certain sexually transmitted infections, prostatitis (an infection or inflammation of the prostate), immune and hormonal disorders and erectile dysfunction.
In addition, "medications for depression, blood pressure and certain heart conditions may lower libido or cause impotence," Kavic said. "Men should talk with their physicians to see if medication is necessary or if they can switch to another with fewer side effects."
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