Читать книгу Getting Pregnant For Dummies - Sharon Perkins - Страница 99

Anything that raises the temperature of a man’s testicles can decrease sperm production and motility. Hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, and tight underwear are out for men! Well … maybe not out altogether.

It seems that the evidence for this belief is derived from a study published in 2007. Searching for other studies failed to identify any. Even the study authors cautioned that their study was a pilot study and suggested further research, but none was ever reported in searchable databases. The study looked at 11 males, asked them to stop using the hot tub, and found that 5 out of the 6 who did stop had an improvement in the motility of the semen analysis. The study did not attempt to determine whether this change increased the chance for conception. Based upon this extraordinarily weak evidence, it is hard to make a recommendation about hot tubs and fertility. A 1996 study looked at using a scrotal cooling device and infertility. The study had 25 subjects, and 16 of the 25 men had an improvement in the semen while 6 achieved a pregnancy. So admittedly, constantly heating the testicles is probably not a good idea, but there is very little evidence that heat exposure affects male fertility. Finally, a 1998 study looked at the influence of boxer shorts on male fertility and guess what? No effect! So, boxers or briefs or commando are okay.

Can the female join her mate now that he has been cleared for hot tub use — perhaps less frequently? The body has incredible temperature regulatory systems to prevent the core body temperature from rising. As a graduate student, Dr. R supplemented his income by being a subject for studies looking at the effect of heat and humidity on human physiology. The subjects walked on treadmills in an environmental chamber where the heat and humidity could be controlled. As the temperature and humidity were increased, the body’s core temperature began to rise. A 1 degree Centigrade rise was enough to absolutely drive the subject to get out of the chamber and cool down, and no amount of threats or money could stop the subjects (meaning Dr. R). The ovaries reside well within the human body and thus are kept at core temperature. No amount of hot tub use can cause a significant rise in the woman’s core temperature, and if for some reason it does start to rise, no amount of encouragement from her partner will keep her in that tub — sorry, guys.