Using Wireless Laptops Found to Reduce Sperm Count in Men

Several years ago it was discovered that men who used laptops tended to have lower than normal sperm counts due to temperature increase in the trousers; now, new research suggests that men who use laptops for browsing the web via Wi-Fi connections are at risk as well. The combined research team from the U.S. and Argentina, has published their findings of their research in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility.

To find out why men who appeared otherwise healthy, and who were properly venting their laptops were still reporting low sperm counts when being tested for problems in conceiving children, the team assembled a group of male volunteers to find out what was going on. In the experiment, 29 men sat with laptops just above their laps in a ventilated area. Half the group did online work, while the other half did work offline. The thinking here is that when a laptop engages the circuitry inside the laptop that allows it to "hear" Wi-Fi signals, some small bit of radiation is released when signals are broadcast to the router as it communicates. Though not believed to be of a high enough level to cause damage, meaning cancer, the radiation emitted has been a concern to those in the fertility business. In the lab experiment, all of the men cruising the web showed lower than normal sperm counts while the men who worked offline did not, thus proving their theory correct.

The results of this study could have far reaching consequences for the Wi-Fi and computer industries as undoubtedly more tests will be done to try to figure out if the low amounts of radiation are as harmless as so-called industry experts have claimed. Thus far, there appears to be no statistics or studies done to determine if laptop users, male or female, are being harmed by their computers when used on or near the body and until research proves otherwise, people of either gender would be wise to cease using their laptops in such manner.

One major concern is what are the long term effects of such laptop usage. Does it cause long term sperm production problems, and if so, is it possible that it also increases the chances of men developing prostate, testicular or penile cancer? At this point, no one knows, but the research teams suggests that due to the results of their efforts, more research should be conducted. And in the meantime, they suggest that computer makers offer a warning to computer users alerting them to the problems found and the possibility of worse to come.