Too Much TV Can Lower Your Sperm Count

The ill health effects of binge-watching have been piling up but nobody is paying attention. A recent survey shows that roughly 42 percent of 14 to 25 year-olds claim to binge-watch at least once a week, as do 30 percent of 26 to 31 year olds.

Maybe some new research out of the University of Copenhagen will finally make us get off the couch, stand up and take notice: It's affecting men's sperm count.

The results of the study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, showed binge-watchers had average sperm counts of 37 million per milliliter of fluid, compared to 52 million per milliliter among men who hardly ever watched TV. That's a 30 percent edge the hardly-watchers have over the bingers! 

The results showed TV addicts had sperm counts of nearly 30 per cent lower than those who had less sedentary lifestyles.

And it gets worse. The bingers also had lower levels of the male hormone testosterone, which the body needs to produce sperm. It's not just the sitting which is causing the discrepancy: scientists found spending time sitting at a computer did not appear to have the same adverse effect.

The science here may come down to the lifestyle which binge-watchers typically assume.  Those who watch a lot of TV are less likely to be doing much exercise or eating healthily, both of which are known, crucial habits for maintaining fertility.