High scrotal temperatures and chairs in the pathophysiology of poor semen quality

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the temperature and humidity of the scrotal skin during sitting on commonly used chairs in relation to body mass index. Materials and methods: Six different chairs were studied, and 8 men participated in the study. In addition to traditional sensors also infrared photography was used in recordings. Results: Statistically highly significant increase up to 3 °C was recorded when subjects were sitting on commonly used chairs already in 20 min. When the subjects were sitting on the saddle chair no increase of scrotal skin temperature or humidity was observed indicating good ventilation due to open hip and knee angles. Body mass index correlated with the scrotal skin temperature, when the subjects were sitting on the conventional cushioned office chair, but not when sitting on the saddle chair. Chairs which increase the scrotal temperature may have contributed to the decrease of semen quality and quantity reported during the last decades in sedentary societies.