davieG Posted 6 February 2013 Posted 6 February 2013 BBC Men who do little exercise and spend much of their spare time watching TV have lower sperm counts than more active men, a study suggests. Clocking up 20 hours a week of TV time appears to be detrimental, the US authors from Harvard say in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Yet 15 hours or more of exercise a week boosts semen quality, according to the results in nearly 200 college students. The researchers said more studies were needed to explore the possible causes. And some experts say men wanting to conceive need to be selective about the sport they do as some types may harm sperm. Too much time riding a bike or doing long-distance running in tight clothing may not be good, other studies suggest. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote My advice would be everything in moderation - and that includes time in the gym as well as watching TV†Dr Allan PaceyFertility expert Similarly, wearing tight underwear rather than boxer shorts has been linked with lower sperm levels. Sedentary lifestyle In the latest study, the researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health asked 189 young men who were students at a university in New York to record how many hours they had been spending doing physical activity and watching TV in a typical week. The volunteers, all aged between 18 and 22, were also asked to provide a sperm sample for lab analysis. When the researchers compared the survey findings with the sperm test results they found the link between sedentary lifestyle and low sperm count. Men who were the most physically active, doing 15 hours or more of moderate to vigorous exercise each week by playing football, baseball or basketball for example, had sperm counts which were 73% higher than those who were least physically active. Those who spent lots of time watching TV or DVDs - at least 20 hours a week - had a sperm count that was 44% lower than men who spent little time in front of the box. None of the men had sperm counts so low that doctors would classify them as sub-fertile. Sperm motility (how well it swims) and shape were unaffected. Warm lap The researchers say their findings are not conclusive but suggest that men who want to improve their fertility might want to look at increasing the amount of physical exercise they do if they currently do little. It is not clear why sitting on the sofa watching TV might lower sperm count. It might be down to temperature - sperm prefer cooler conditions and production halts if the scrotum gets too hot. Obesity may also affect fertility - although most of the men were not overweight. Dr Audrey Jane Gaskins and colleagues say more studies are needed to confirm and explore the possible causes behind their findings. Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, said: "It remains to be seen if coaxing a TV-watching couch potato into doing some regular exercise could actually improve his sperm count. Or whether there exists an unknown fundamental difference between men who like exercise and those who do not which might account for the findings. "This should be a relatively easy study to perform, but before all worried men hunt for their sports bag it's important to note that other research suggests that doing too much exercise can be harmful to sperm production. "My advice would be everything in moderation - and that includes time in the gym as well as watching TV."
Zingari Posted 6 February 2013 Posted 6 February 2013 How do they know whether it's inactive men who watch lots of TV causing them to have low sperm count, or if its men with low sperm count that cause them to be inactive and watch more TV ?
Guest BlueBrett Posted 6 February 2013 Posted 6 February 2013 How do they know whether it's inactive men who watch lots of TV causing them to have low sperm count, or if its men with low sperm count that cause them to be inactive and watch more TV ?
ithuriel Posted 6 February 2013 Posted 6 February 2013 What if you spend twenty hours a week in front of a PC moniter but get 15 hours of exercise too
Guest Posted 6 February 2013 Posted 6 February 2013 What if you spend twenty hours a week in front of a PC moniter but get 15 hours of exercise too what 15 hours of porn during 20 hours on the PC. That's impressive!
sphericalfox Posted 6 February 2013 Posted 6 February 2013 What if you spend twenty hours a week in front of a PC moniter but get 15 hours of exercise too Hand squats don't count.
BoneDog Posted 6 February 2013 Posted 6 February 2013 It's all those invisible rays that are constantly sent forward from the screen through the space in front of the tele. Forget what they're called but they're relentless.
BoneDog Posted 6 February 2013 Posted 6 February 2013 Disappointed that that is a cd and not a movie!
Parafox Posted 6 February 2013 Posted 6 February 2013 Disappointed that that is a cd and not a movie! I looked for something relevant to the TV but this was the best I could do unless...
Lamby Posted 7 February 2013 Posted 7 February 2013 I only watch porn and The FLS anyway, so I'm fine
BoneDog Posted 7 February 2013 Posted 7 February 2013 I looked for something relevant to the TV but this was the best I could do unless... Yep it's defo something to do with those electron guns and the emitted alpha waves carrying phosphorous from the phospor dots towards our balls. I've always said that.
Carl the Llama Posted 7 February 2013 Posted 7 February 2013 I looked for something relevant to the TV but this was the best I could do unless... There are guns in out TV's?! Last time I'm watching anything.
Necro Posted 8 February 2013 Posted 8 February 2013 I find my sperm count is significantly lower after watching The Walking Dead.
FurtiveFox Posted 8 February 2013 Posted 8 February 2013 I find my sperm count is significantly lower after watching The Walking Dead. I can see why. They really shouldn't be mobile. It isn't how nature intended.
Ford Super Sunday Posted 8 February 2013 Posted 8 February 2013 I only watch porn and The FLS anyway, so I'm fine Those with a thing for Steve Claridge would consider that heaven.
Guest Posted 8 February 2013 Posted 8 February 2013 So a cup match going to a penalty shoot-out is worse than a game finishing in the regular 90?
Rincewind Posted 8 February 2013 Posted 8 February 2013 Too late now to pass my genius genes on. Mankind is doomed.
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