Nov 6, 2010 12:11 PM
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Kotaku has Kinect. The good and bad of the machine that could transform your TV.
Ever wonder just how hot your balls get under your laptop? "Within 10 or 15 minutes their scrotal temperature is already above what we consider safe," says one doctor. Turns out that cooking your testicles is also bad for reproducing.
In the journal Fertility and Sterility, researchers presented their findings of a study that hooked thermometers up to the balls of 29 men with a laptop on their knees. Dr. Yefim Sheynkin, who led the study, said that even though a man's testicles start heating up after just 10 minutes, "they don't feel it." This is bad for many reasons, but especially if you're trying to have kids. Increases in testicle temperature have been shown to lower a man's sperm count, but doctors are quick to point out that there's no evidence directly linking hot laptops and sperm production. At least not this week.
"I wouldn't say that if someone starts to use laptops they will become infertile," Dr. Sheynkin told Reuters. But he adds, "the scrotum doesn't have time to cool down" which, besides sounding awful, is also very, very bad for your health. And if you think that stacking some pillows between your sac and your computer might help, think again: "It doesn't matter what pad you use. You can put a pillow beneath your computer and it still won't protect you."
Basically it's all bad news here. But Dr. Sheynkin has one little bit of advice — use a desk, or if you insist on putting your computer on your lap, make sure you air out your balls from time to time to avoid "scrotal hyperthermia." Will do, Doc.
[Image via Shutterstock]
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Send an email to Jeff Neumann, the author of this post, at jeff@gawker.com.
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