Use of laptop computers connected to internet through Wi-Fi decreases human sperm motility and increases sperm DNA fragmentation.
Avendaño C, Mata A, Sanchez Sarmiento CA, Doncel GF. · 2012
View Original AbstractWiFi-connected laptops damaged human sperm DNA and swimming ability in just 4 hours, suggesting everyday device use may harm male fertility.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed sperm samples from 29 healthy men to WiFi-connected laptops for 4 hours and found significant damage compared to unexposed samples. The WiFi exposure reduced sperm's ability to swim properly and caused DNA fragmentation (genetic damage) without generating heat. This suggests that men who regularly use WiFi laptops on their laps may be harming their fertility.
Why This Matters
This groundbreaking study provides the first direct evidence that WiFi radiation can damage human sperm at the cellular level. What makes this research particularly compelling is its controlled design - each man's sperm was split into two samples, with one exposed to a WiFi laptop and one kept as a control under identical conditions. The fact that researchers observed both reduced motility and DNA fragmentation suggests multiple mechanisms of harm from radiofrequency exposure.
The implications extend far beyond laptop use. Modern men carry WiFi-enabled smartphones in their pockets daily, often positioned directly against reproductive organs for hours at a time. The radiation levels from these devices are comparable to or higher than the laptop exposure in this study. While the researchers appropriately call for more research, the evidence demonstrates measurable biological effects that could contribute to declining sperm quality observed globally over recent decades.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 4 hours
Study Details
To evaluate the effects of laptop computers connected to local area networks wirelessly (Wi-Fi) on human spermatozoa.
Semen samples from 29 healthy donors. Motile sperm were selected by swim up. Each sperm suspension w...
Donor sperm samples, mostly normozoospermic, exposed ex vivo during 4 hours to a wireless internet-c...
To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the direct impact of laptop use on human spermatozoa. Ex vivo exposure of human spermatozoa to a wireless internet-connected laptop decreased motility and induced DNA fragmentation by a nonthermal effect. We speculate that keeping a laptop connected wirelessly to the internet on the lap near the testes may result in decreased male fertility. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to prove this contention.
Show BibTeX
@article{c_2012_use_of_laptop_computers_1855,
author = {Avendaño C and Mata A and Sanchez Sarmiento CA and Doncel GF.},
title = {Use of laptop computers connected to internet through Wi-Fi decreases human sperm motility and increases sperm DNA fragmentation.},
year = {2012},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22112647/},
}