Article in Press
Use of laptop computers connected to internet through Wi-Fi
decreases human sperm motility and increases sperm DNA
fragmentation
Received 14 June 2011; received in revised form 9 September
2011; accepted 11 October 2011. published online 23 November
2011.
Corrected Proof
Objective
To evaluate the effects of laptop computers connected to local
area networks wirelessly (Wi-Fi) on human spermatozoa.
Design
Semen samples from 29 healthy donors.
Intervention(s)
Motile sperm were selected by swim up. Each sperm suspension
was divided into two aliquots. One sperm aliquot
(experimental) from each patient was exposed to an
internet-connected laptop by Wi-Fi for 4 hours, whereas the
second aliquot (unexposed) was used as control, incubated
under identical conditions without being exposed to the
laptop.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Evaluation of sperm motility, viability, and DNA
fragmentation.
Result(s)
Donor sperm samples, mostly normozoospermic, exposed ex vivo
during 4 hours to a wireless internet-connected laptop showed
a significant decrease in progressive sperm motility and an
increase in sperm DNA fragmentation. Levels of dead sperm
showed no significant differences between the two groups.
Conclusion(s)
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.
Avendano Wi-Fi Decreases sperm motility & increase DNA fragments 11-23-11.pdf