Turns Out, Laptops Could Decrease Sperm Count

It can be incredibly stressful trying to get pregnant. Between doctor visits and fertility consultations, you and your partner might be wondering what more you can do to conceive. Should you change your diet? Should you have more sex? And what about concerns that specifically target male infertility? Do laptops decrease sperm count? Fortunately, recent studies have examined this question and the findings can help you navigate this issue.

If you're struggling with infertility, you are not alone. About 13 out of 100 couples can't conceive with unprotected sex, according to the Urology Care Foundation. And one of the most common causes of infertility? It stems from a man's sperm production or with sperm delivery. Generally speaking, a man's sperm count can decrease due to a variety of factors, like gaining weight, tobacco use, or excessive heat from a laptop.

Because sperm cells can be so sensitive, any activity that elevates the temperature around the scrotum — like sitting in a hot tub or setting a laptop on the legs — can decrease a man's sperm count. In a 2011 study published in the journal Fertility & Sterility, researchers found that scrotal temperatures rose when male test subjects balanced their laptops on top of their closed legs — no matter the make, model, or size of the computer used.

And so, if your partner regularly places his laptop on his legs, he should figure out a different position to finish his work project or scroll through his Facebook feed. To protect his sperm count, he should use his laptop on a desk or table, suggested Edmund Sabanegh, a urologist, on the Cleveland Clinic's website. As for laptop pads, Sabanegh recommends using them only for a short amount of time or not at all. At the end of the day, it's better to play things safe.

The struggle is real when it comes to getting pregnant. There are so many precautions to take that it's totally understandable if you're feeling overwhelmed. But thanks to medical advice, you don't have to wonder anymore if laptop usage affects sperm count. As long as your partner sets his laptop on a desk or table, that's one less factor you have to worry about.