Laptops reduce male fertility

Posted on February 13, 2012 Julie Chang, L.Ac.

Laptops have become indispensable devices in many people’s daily lives. However, the flexibility and mobility offered by these devices to users may come at a price. A recent study published in the January 2012 issue of Fertility and Sterility found that an active laptop computer connected to internet through Wi-Fi induced a significant decrease in sperm quality after only 4 hours of exposure. This effect was due to exposing the genital area to radio frequency electromagnetic waves (RF-EMW) and high temperatures.

Infertility is a common condition that affects up to 1 in 6 couples in the U.S. In 50% of the cases a male factor is involved, either as a primary problem or in combination with a problem in the female partner. A number of studies have shown that male fertility has declined during the past several decades. Such decline has been attributed, in part, to the direct or indirect exposure to certain environmental factors such as RF-EMW.

But help may be available in an unexpected form: acupuncture. Medical experts believe that this ancient therapy from China, which involves placing numerous thin needles at certain points in the body, can help improve fertility in men.

"Acupuncture has been around for over 3,000 years. It's safe and there are no bad side effects from it," explained Julie Chang, L.Ac., founder and director of Zen Fertility Center in San Diego, CA, a natural fertility clinic specializing in the use of acupuncture for the treatment of infertility. "It is often used in conjunction with western fertility treatments to help prepare the body and maximize the potential effects of fertility treatments."

Dr. Deidre Conway, Reproductive Endocrinologist at UCSD Reproductive Partners in San Diego, CA, said that "we encourage the combination of Eastern and Western medicine to enhance the success of our fertility treatments. Occasionally, couples will conceive before they even get to treatment with us, which is always a welcome surprise.”

The actual acupuncture treatment session involves placing very thin needles at specific points in the body. In addition to relieving stress, Chang said that acupuncture can help increase a man's fertility by promoting blood flow to the testes. This improved blood flow can help improve sperm production.

It may also help correct problems with the body's neuro-endocrine system. Acupuncture can help activate the brain to release hormones that will stimulate the testes, adrenal glands and other organs that are involved in reproduction, according to Chang.

In general, women younger than 35 years of age are often advised to try to get pregnant for about a year before seeking treatment for infertility. "But, if you're anxious to get going, six months is a reasonable time to wait to start the fertility work up, including a thorough semen analysis," Chang said. And women older than 35 probably shouldn't wait more than six months, she added.

Conway said “we see more and more infertile couples trying to conceive at an older age, who have postponed childbearing for various reasons. For many couples, the addition of acupuncture to the standard fertility treatments is an invaluable part of the process of realizing their dreams of starting a family.”

1 Comment     Comments

Shannon Bruneck, Encinitas,California , March 6, 2012 at 11:38 PM | Reply Infertility can now be called as a disease that has now spread in 50% of the U.S. couple.Children are the live wire of any home. Upon marriage, a couple's first desire would always be of having a child. Thereafter, if they are a working couple and are not able to look after their kid but want to give their new born all the facilities, then sending their child to the best day care would be their first priority. This blog will be a great help for the couple who suffer from infertility and are not able to conceive a child.