Summary
This comprehensive review examined evidence from studies published between 1970 and 2017 on how common sports and recreational activities influence male reproductive health. The analysis shows that certain high-impact sports, such as American football, which involve frequent head trauma, may contribute to hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction. Early concerns about bicycling were later refined to show that sports cycling, rather than casual cycling, is more strongly associated with erectile problems. Several team sports—including football, basketball, handball, and volleyball—were linked to a higher prevalence and severity of varicocele, a known risk factor for impaired spermatogenesis and infertility. A range of everyday heat-producing activities—sauna use, hot tubs, Jacuzzis, heated car seats, and laptop use—were consistently associated with elevated testicular temperatures, which can disrupt sperm production. Additionally, radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation from cell phones and laptops has been shown to reduce sperm viability and motility. Overall, the review highlights that many routine sports and lifestyle behaviors may negatively affect male fertility, underscoring the importance for clinicians to consider these exposures when evaluating unexplained male infertility.
PMID: 29731401
DOI: 10.1016/j.euf.2018.04.013
Abstract
Context
Male factor infertility plays a significant role in infertility. Many factors have been associated with male infertility; however, the link between many sports and recreational factors and male reproduction remains poorly characterized.
Objective
To evaluate the current literature regarding the impact of many common sports and recreational factors on male reproduction.
Evidence acquisition
A comprehensive PubMed and Embase search for relevant articles published between 1970 and 2017 was performed by combining the following search terms: male, sports (including individual sports), traumatic brain injury, sauna, hot tub, fertility, erectile dysfunction, varicocele, environment, cell phone, and laptop computer.
Evidence synthesis
Hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction can be associated with sports with high rates of head injuries, such as American football. Although early reports linked other sports, such as bicycling, to erectile dysfunction, subsequent studies isolated these associations to sports cycling rather than recreational cycling. Certain sports (football, basketball, handball, and volleyball) were linked to increasing prevalence and severity of varicocele, offering a potential link to male infertility. In addition, recreational activities such as sauna, hot tubs, Jacuzzis, heated car seats, and laptop use were associated with high testicular temperature, which can impair spermatogenesis. Radio frequency electromagnetic waves from cell phones and laptops have also been shown to have deleterious effects on sperm viability and motility.
Conclusions
Many common sports and daily activities represent potential sources of male infertility. Clinicians should be aware of these associations in explaining idiopathic infertility in males.
Panara K, Masterson JM, Savio LF, Ramasamy R. Adverse Effects of Common Sports and Recreational Activities on Male Reproduction. Eur Urol Focus. 2019 Nov;5(6):1146-1151. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2018.04.013. Epub 2018 May 3. PMID: 29731401.