Bingeing on TV for more than 20 hours a week is linked with reduction in sperm count by 35% as per the study published in American Journal of Epidemiology, watching TV for more than 5 hours a day showed significant drop in the levels of sperm count and testosterone levels in the body.
On the contrary working in front of the computer did not affect the levels of testosterone or sperm count or had any other adverse effect. ​The reason may be linked to the fact that those who watch too much TV are less likely to exercise or eat healthy, the essential habits for maintaining fertility.
Watching excess TV is also attributable to eating high calorie junk food and laziness. Moreover canned or packaged foods, high fat cheese products contain acidic additives that alter the pH level of the body. Along with the sedentary lifestyle, the chemical additives and acidic nature either harms the motility and shape of the sperm cells or lead to its death. Bisphenol A (BPA) is linked to lowering the semen quality and binge eating in front of TV are at a four times the risk of lowering the sperm count, motility and concentration says Dr Sagarika Aggarwal, IVF Expert, Indira IVF hospital, New Delhi.​
According to the study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, sperm samples collected from 200 students all aged between 18 – 22 years for lab analysis showed a link between sedentary lifestyle and low sperm count. Binge-watchers had average sperm counts of 37 Mn per mL, as compared to 52 Mn per mL among those who hardly spend time in front of the TV. TV addicts were found to have 38% lower sperm count than those who had less sedentary lifestyle. Moreover the study showed a link between developing risk of dying from blood clot in the lungs due to fatal pulmonary embolism was raised by 45% with every hour of additional watching per day.
Though many studies suggest that 18 hours of average exercise a week could boost sperm quality, excess to that can still degrade its quality. Physically active men with atleast 15 hours of moderate exercising or playing sports had sperm counts around 3/4th higher than those who were physically inactive​ ​added Swati Mothe, Hyderabad based IVF Expert​.​
Sitting for hours together in front of the TV may be associated with warming lap. Sperm prefers cool conditions than the body temperature for sperm production and the hotter conditions may halt it. Over exercising and binge watching both stimulate the generation of free radicals in the body that leads to cell death and sperm being a cell also has 90% chances to die and significantly affect the reproductive health. It is advisable to do everything in moderation – be it the time spent in the gym or watching TV.
