Laptops Damage Sperm

WE all do it; sit on the sofa, laptops on our knees whilst half watching our favourite TV programme. But,  if you're male trying or hoping to start a family in the future, you should perhaps think again.

Now scientist have discovered that a personal computer using wi-fi that's placed near male reproductive organs, reduces sperm quality and the chances of men experiencing fatherhood.

Sperms that were placed under a laptop that used wireless, were found to be more damaged than specimens kept at the same temperature but away from a wi-fi signal.

The bench side tests were undertaken by a team from the Nascentis Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Cordoba, Argentina and the Eastern Virginia Medical School.  Their findings were published in the Fertility and Sterility journal. 

But the team involved in the research did express caution stressing that the results were carried out in an artificial setting.  Men should not overly worry just yet.

The study took sperm specimens from 29 healthy men, aged 26 to 45.

Their samples were separated out into two pots and placed in two locations, under a laptop using wireless technology or away from the computer.  Scientists then used the laptop to download information from the internet for four hours. 

The results showed 25 per cent of the sperm under the laptop had stopped moving and nine per cent showed DNA damage.  By comparison, just 14 per cent of samples kept away from the wi-fi stopped moving while just three per cent suffered DNA damage.

Interestingly, semen placed under the computer without the wi-fi connected did not experience significant levels of sperm damage.

In past stiudies, fears over links between infertility and laptops have focused on heat emitted by the devices.

Scientist recommended more research be undertaken.