Why heated car seats are a no-no for men starting family

FREEZING temperatures have made heated blankets and car seats increasingly popular – but if you’re a man hoping to start a family, you may want to opt for a chunky jumper instead.

It has long been known that lengthy, hot baths are bad for men trying to conceive, as testicles need to remain cool for optimal sperm production.

But putting an electric blanket on the lap, or sitting on heated car seats, can have a similar effect over time, experts warn.

Dr Ippokratis Sarris, a consultant in reproductive medicine, said: ‘While heated car seats and heated blankets offer an effective and tempting way to keep warm during the cold weather, prolonged use could potentially pose risks to male fertility by increasing the temperature of the testes to levels that can affect sperm production.

‘Although this would be reversible, if someone is trying to conceive, it’s advisable to consider balancing cosiness with safeguarding their reproductive health during the colder seasons.’

Sperm production requires the testicles to be several degrees cooler than the rest of the body, which is why they are kept cool by hanging outside of the body.

Allan Pacey, a male fertility expert who is professor of andrology at the University of Manchester, said: ‘We’ve known for a while that heating the testicles through the wearing of tight pants or sitting down too long behind the wheel of a vehicle can reduce sperm production.

‘Therefore, by logical extension, I would imagine that the use of heated car seats or electric blankets during this cold snap might do the same thing.

‘My advice to any men planning to try for a pregnancy with their partner is to keep their heated car seats and electric blankets turned off. It could make all the difference,’ he said.

Studies have shown that a rise in temperature can change sperm count, the shape of sperm, and how fast they can swim.

Men who wear skin-tight cycling shorts have been warned in the past about overheating their groin area, and fertility experts have previously cautioned men against using a warm laptop directly on their lap.

Dr Channa Jayasena, head of andrology at Imperial College London, said: ‘Anything that heats up the testes can damage some of the sperm, which makes them less likely to fertilise an egg.

‘The worst culprits are long cycle rides in lycra or long, hot baths,’ he said.

‘Occasional use of heated car seats and electric blankets should not be a problem.’

But Dr Jayasena added: ‘It remains to be proven, but prolonged and regular use of heated car seats and electric blankets might be bad for a man’s fertility.’

And Terry Sullivan, managing director of Fertility Family, a firm selling supplements that are claimed to boost fertility, warned against even slight heating.

‘Even small temperature increases can inhibit the production of sperm. Prolonged exposure to heat, whether from heated blankets, saunas, or heated seats, has the potential to adversely affect male fertility,’ he said.