• Dr Francis Wuobar, Gynecologist at Eastern Regional Hospital

Men who expose themselves to excessive heat by using motorcycles, placing laptop computers on their lap and working for long, enjoying hot baths, wearing tight clothing and sitting for long periods, have been advised to stop as the practice can negatively affect their sperm production, and lead to infertility.

Research has shown that overexposure to heat can cause scrotal heating that affects sperm quality.

Dr Francis Woubar, a Senior Doctor and Gynaecologist at the Eastern Regional Hospital has advised men to desist from exposing themselves to heat to stay fertile.

He explained in an interview with this reporter that “when it’s hot, the scrotum relaxes and the testicles settle lower. Sperm cells die when exposed to too much heat and continuous exposure to higher temperatures can cause sperm production to be lower, or cause the production of abnormally shaped sperm cells which can result in infertility.”

He added that if the testicular temperature was maintained above a desirable level for prolonged period, it could impair sperm production’s quantity and quality.

“There are some men who always have laptops on their thighs and work for long, while some are always enjoying hot baths, wearing too much tight clothes among others,” he said, indicating that these could affect their sperm production.

Dr Woubar further advised mothers who had been engaging in putting hot water on the penises of their baby boys to heal their wounds after circumcision, to desist from it.

He said the practice of exposing their babies’ testicles to heat could be harmful to them.

Dr Woubar advised that to decrease the heat on the scrotum and testicles, there was the need for men to wear loose clothes to allow for proper air circulation around the scrotum and testicles.

“Avoid placing laptops on the lap, taking hot baths and wearing tight clothes as well as sitting for long periods,” he emphasised.

He said that it would do men a lot of good if they ate healthy food and avoided smoking, drinking alcohol among other harmful practices.

From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua