Heated car seats hurt men's chances of making children

[Huhness]

HEATED car seats bring relief in cold winters but new research suggests this luxury extra is damaging men's chances of conceiving children.

Tests on German men have shown that the heated seats found in many European cars and new model Asian-designed vehicles raise scrotum temperature above optimal sperm production conditions.

Sperm-making is best at 35.5C, slightly below body temperature, explaining why the scrotum hangs outside the body.

But a study involving 30 men published in New Scientist magazine found heated seats raised the mercury of scrotums to 37.3 degrees after one hour of sitting, compared with 36.7 degrees on unheated seats.

One man's vital equipment reached 39.7 degrees, according to the study.
Lead author Andreas Jung, of the University of Giessen, said although the increase was only slight it may nevertheless be enough to damage the sperm production process.

Professor Michael Chapman, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist in Sydney, said high temperatures had been shown to damage both the quality and quantity of sperm.

Men who work in hot environments like glass furnaces, as well as those who sit for long periods like truck drivers and taxi drivers, have been shown anecdotally to have lower sperm counts, Prof Chapman said.

"This increase seen with heated seats is unlikely to be a significant issue unless you are sitting in a car for a long period of time on a regular basis with the heater on," he said.

"But these are the types of things men should be considering if they want to have a baby but are having trouble conceiving."

Specialists now estimate 50 per cent of infertility troubles are due to sperm quality, with rates of sperm "breakage" increasing with age.

Prof Chapman said men concerned about the problem should "try wearing baggy underwear and getting out of your vehicle a few times during the day if you're a taxi driver or truck driver".Link (http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24251274-5006007,00.html)

My little guys are safe!

[btm]

i knew there was a logical reason why i didnt buy the turbo :rolleyes:

[GodsKnight]

what is classed as sitting for long periods of time :confused: im at my office sitting on my chair for many hours!!! This gives me a scientific proof that i need extra walk around breaks!!

[SSS_Hoon]

who needs heated seats anyway really.

If its that damm cold you have long pants on anyway so u don't feel the cold seat.

Speaking of seats i recently put a new seat in the SSS its a GTR seat and its so much better, doing the passenger side soon too whoo hoo.

SSS_Hoon

[Tfer]

who needs heated seats anyway really.

If its that damm cold you have long pants on anyway so u don't feel the cold seat.

Speaking of seats i recently put a new seat in the SSS its a GTR seat and its so much better, doing the passenger side soon too whoo hoo.

SSS_Hoon

I happen to run my heated driver's seat on "5" for about 2 minutes, and then roll it back to "1" for the drive to work on a cold morning. So I need my heated seat ;) as after all leather is actually quite cold and unforgiving initially.

R on the other hand, has hers on "5" for the entire trip.

Would I buy another car which has them.... yes, as my next car WILL have leather seats, and seeing as I have a great chance of being promoted and moved to Melbourne next year..... all the more reasons :D

My 2 cents.....

[imay]

who needs heated seats anyway really.


Don't knock the heated seats until you have tried them. I find them absolutely great when travelling - set them on low and helps to keep these tired old bones supple!

And of course, on a cool crisp day with the roof off, you might just want the heater on as well!

My next car will have them for sure.

[btm]

having them in a vert makes sense

[Tfer]

having them in a vert makes sense

As does any car with leather seats

[SSS_Hoon]

i have tried them, and found them to be well a bit of a meh. Although i know the wife would use them all the time that is for sure. I guess being a heffa i dont feel the cold as much.

I can get the point of them, its just not a selling/deciding factor for me to choose/not choose a car.

SSS_Hoon

[btm]

farting does a good job of heating up my seats :p

[Vectracious]

so if you wear boxers or go commando, does it cancel the heated seats out? ;)

[Huhness]

farting does a good job of heating up my seats :p
You car comes with this feature too! :eek:

[btm]

You car comes with this feature too! :eek:
must be a special feature that only the 2.2s got :D

[Wraith]

LOL you guys, heated seats are great :)

As for testicle warming, I think there are worse things to worry about when it comes to that than the occaisional use of heated seats LOL...

[Ice]

I heard that this morning on the radio on the way to work with my seats at 5 ! DOU !!!!!!!! I guess during the summer when I dont use them my sperm count will go back to normal. I did turn it right down when I heard it.

[GreyRex]

I guess it's for more prolonged periods like they said; truck drivers, taxi drivers.

If i had the option to choose leather (with standard heat seating), would I have chosen it? No

Am i glad that the feature is in them seeing as though they came with the car? Yes, considering it was 0.5 degrees in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne this week when I left for work. Sitting in leather at that ambient temperature (initially) is not fun

But I don't think there's too much to worry about for the trips to work/shops etc

[Huhness]

must be a special feature that only the 2.2s got :D
Nearly all the seats i sit in seem to have this feature!

My next car has heated leather recaros :cool:

[wishbone]

i use them quite abit, but i dont think i spend an hour on the seats themselves.. when they get a little too hot, i just turn it off anyway..

[auzvectra]

i'd say it's more if you run them at full temp and for long trips, i normally only have mine on 1 or 2, it has to be very cold for 5.
but as tfer said, on a cold morning/nite they are needed big time.
i have headed home many nite in the wee hrs of the mornin, freezing my arss off till they warm up, anything below 10 deg and you really need them.

[poita]

I can't wait to set mine up :)
Like I'll use em much though lol

[glider]

i'd say it's more if you run them at full temp and for long trips, i normally only have mine on 1 or 2, it has to be very cold for 5.
but as tfer said, on a cold morning/nite they are needed big time.
i have headed home many nite in the wee hrs of the mornin, freezing my arss off till they warm up, anything below 10 deg and you really need them.

boohoo

thats karma for getting leather seats :p

[auzvectra]

haha, just cause u missed out :p.

[Senor Ed]

Sweet.....no need to buy rubbers then;)

[bornwild]

I've got heated seats and won't buy a car without them....Need them in winter, it's a must. Well, on leather it is.

[btm]

Sweet.....no need to buy rubbers then;)

bwahahaha :D

[cbrmale]

I run my heated seats on maximum until they start to warm up, and then I turn them off and rely on the climate control. With leather seats, heating elements are essential, especially in winter in Canberra. The first minute or so until the elements warm is painfully cold.