Several studies are showing a connection between tablet or smartphone use and trouble sleeping at night, and now the latest study shows that the use of the gadgets before bedtime could lead to a decline in sperm count.

Use of electronic devices before bedtime leads to a decline in sperm count

A study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine established a relationship between the use of digital devices before sleep and sperm quality in men. According to preliminary results, the more a man uses digital devices in the evening, and before bedtime, the more likely the sperm quality is likely to decline. Among the subjects studied, males who had interaction and copious use of electronic devices were evaluated for sperm quality in terms of progressive motility, motility, and concentration, which were all found to be lower. Progressive motility, which refers to the sperm’s ability to swim correctly, is an important part of the process of conception.

Lead investigator Dr. Amit Green stated in a release that the use of tablets and smartphones in the evening and after bedtime was associated with sperm quality decline. On the other hand, the use of smartphones, tablets, past bedtime, and television uses in the evening all contributed to declines in the concentration of sperm. Green is the head of R&D a the Sleep and Fatigue Institutes at the Assuta Medical Centre in Israel.

Sleep habits affect sperm quality

The study collects semen samples from 116 men aged between 21 and 59 years. The participants were enrolled in a fertility evaluation program, and they filled surveys about their sleep habits, night-time routines, and the use of electronic devices.

Interestingly the study also established that there was a relationship between sleep habits and sperm quality. Men that slept for long hours were found to have higher sperm count and enhanced progressive motility, and those with greater sleepiness had lower general sperm quality. Green said that this is the first research to report the correlation between short-wavelength exposure from electronic devices and sperm quality.