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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on December 9, 2004
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/deh616
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Human Reproduction © European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2004; all rights reserved
Received May 4, 2004
Revised September 27, 2004
Accepted October 21, 2004

Article

Increase in scrotal temperature in laptop computer users

Yefim Sheynkin 1*, Michael Jung 1, Peter Yoo 1, David Schulsinger 1, and Eugene Komaroff 2

1 Department of Urology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook NY 11794-8093, USA
2 General Clinical Research Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook NY 11794-8093, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Yefim Sheynkin, E-mail: ysheynkin{at}notes.cc.sunysb.edu


  Abstract

BACKGROUND: Scrotal hyperthermia has been identified as a risk factor for male infertility. Laptop computers (LC) have become part of a contemporary lifestyle and have gained popularity among the younger population of reproductive age. LC are known to reach high internal operating temperatures. We evaluated the thermal effect of LC on the scrotum. METHODS: Right and left scrotal temperature (ScT) was measured in 29 healthy volunteers in two separate 60 min sessions. ScT was recorded from thermocouples on a digital datalogger every 3 min with the working LC in a laptop position and in the same sitting position with approximated thighs without LC. RESULTS: ScT increased significantly on the right and left side in the group with working LC (2.8°C and 2.6°C, respectively; P<0001) and without LC (2.1°C, P<0.0001). However, ScT elevation with working LC was significantly higher (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Working LC in a laptop position causes significant ScT elevation as a result of heat exposure and posture-related effects. Long-term exposure to LC-related repetitive transient scrotal hyperthermia is a modern lifestyle feature that may have a negative impact upon spermatogenesis, specifically in teenage boys and young men. Further studies of such thermal effects on male reproductive health are warranted.


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