Bad News for Playboys...

[Mr T.]

Not so "G-r-o-o-v-e-y B-a-b-y"


Bad news for playboys: waterbeds can make you infertile
By David Derbyshire, Science Correspondent in Philadelphia
(Filed: 20/10/2004)

They were once the epitome of Playboy chic, gracing every swinger's bedroom from Hugh Hefner's mansion to Austin Powers' bachelor pad.

But yesterday the macho image of waterbeds was dealt a major blow by scientists who warned that they could reduce male fertility.

The findings, from a study of more than 1,300 American men, add to the growing evidence that the playboy lifestyle of smoking, cannabis, alcohol and tight trousers contribute to sluggish sperm.

But scientists also had bad news for those whose idea of a big night is a mug of cocoa and a good book. The study found electric blankets can also lower sperm counts.

The findings by researchers at Pennsylvania University and Rochester University, who studied waterbed use along with dozens of other lifestyle factors in 650 infertile and 698 fertile men.

"Current alcohol consumption, electric blanket use and waterbed use were associated with a greater likelihood of infertility," the team led by Dr Clarisa Gracia said.

Waterbed users were four times more likely to be infertile than non-users while electric blankets increased chances of infertility more than sevenfold.

Because modern waterbeds are heated, it is likely that infertility problems could be linked to overly warm sleeping conditions.

The study, presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine conference in Philadelphia, also found that hot baths appeared to protect against infertility - a finding the researchers described as "surprising".

They found no connections between infertility and smoking, Jacuzzi use, vibration, coffee or tea or space heaters.

However, the scientists cautioned against changing behaviour based on the one, small study.

"This study highlights many of the challenges involved in studying environmental exposures and fertility," they said. "Further large prospective studies are necessary to clarify the association between environmental exposures and infertility before widespread behavioural modification is recommended."

Although water-filled beds, made from goatskins, were used in Persia 3,600 years ago, the modern waterbed was born in the 1870s.

Introduced at St Bart's hospital, London, the devices were designed to prevent bed sores and resembled large hot water bottles.

Waterbeds started to gain popularity only in the 1960s after the invention of vinyl. At first, they were associated with hippies but soon became the essential accessory - along with the cocktail bar, mirrored ceilings and medallion - of the 1970s playboy.

Hugh Hefner had a king-sized waterbed installed at his Playboy Mansion. Leading hotels even installed them in their honeymoon suites while Sheik Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Saudi Arabia's oil minister, had one installed in his 727 jet.

Today, the waterbed has moved into the mainstream and in America sells around two million every year.

Their appearance in the films Boogie Nights and The Ice Storm have boosted a mini revival. A range of lifestyle factors have previously been found in reduce sperm counts, or make sperm less active.

Last year, researchers found that drinking coffee made sperm swim faster and that obesity reduced sperm counts - possibly because body fat produces the female sex hormone oestrogen. Marijuana reduces sperm quality. Some studies have shown that tobacco has no effect on sperm quality, although it can lead to impotency.

Pesticides, hormone mimicking chemicals and radioactive materials have all been linked to infertility.

Men wanting children are advised to adopt a healthier lifestyle - to give up taking drugs and reduce alcohol. Seafood that can contain mercury should be avoided.

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Bren Tierney

Seafood that can contain mercury should be avoided.

Well duh!!!!

Basically, don't eat anything that can tell you what the temperature is!

[Helen F H]

I know of one YD'er who has a water bed...............

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Porg

I know of one YD'er who has a water bed...............

If its a him, just how do you know of this fact young lady???

[Helen F H]

Originally Posted by Finless

If its a him, just how do you know of this fact young lady???

He told me so nanananananaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[greekbird]

....we have one....super-king size!! :cheeky smile:
i cannot touch the sides of it anyway i sleep....and i dont get the brrrrrrrr cold feeling when i go to bed!
it's luuuuurvely!

[Finless]

Originally Posted by greekbird

....we have one....super-king size!! :cheeky smile:
i cannot touch the sides of it anyway i sleep....and i dont get the brrrrrrrr cold feeling when i go to bed!
it's luuuuurvely!

If the other half is a surfer does that mean "riding a wave" is lots of fun?

[beanie]

well given that little lots I must be highly fertile then

form an orderly que ladies