Does exposure to computers affect the routine parameters of semen quality?
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether exposure to computers harms the semen quality of healthy young men.


METHODS
A total of 178 subjects were recruited from two maternity and children healthcare centers in Shanghai, 91 with a history of exposure to computers (i.e., exposure for 20 h or more per week in the last 2 years) and 87 persons to act as control (no or little exposure to computers). Data on the history of exposure to computers and other characteristics were obtained by means of a structured questionnaire interview. Semen samples were collected by masturbation in the place where the semen samples were analyzed.


RESULTS
No differences in the distribution of the semen parameters (semen volume, sperm density, percentage of progressive sperm, sperm viability and percentage of normal form sperm) were found between the exposed group and the control group. Exposure to computers was not found to be a risk factor for inferior semen quality after adjusting for potential confounders, including abstinence days, testicle size, occupation, history of exposure to toxic substances.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study did not find that healthy men exposed to computers had inferior semen quality.
Sun
Yue-Lian
YL
Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, 2140 Xietu Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
Zhou
Wei-Jin
WJ
Wu
Jun-Qing
JQ
Gao
Er-Sheng
ES
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D003201:Computers; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires