It is well known that spending too much time gaming can lead to weight gain and sleep problems.
However, it could cause problems in the bedroom, a study suggests.
Chinese researchers studied more than 200,000 men as they engaged in “leisure” activities like watching TV, taking a car ride, and playing computer games.
The team measured participants’ sex hormones, as well as their feelings of depression and anxiety.
They found that every day, 1.2 hours spent playing video games or other leisure activities in front of the computer led to a three times higher risk of erectile dysfunction (ED).
Spending more time on the computer was associated with a 3.5 times higher risk of men developing erectile dysfunction
The number of men seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction has soared in recent years amid what some have described as a “silent epidemic,” according to studies tracking scripts for the disorder.
And there was “no evidence to suggest that watching TV or driving for pleasure” caused a greater risk of erectile dysfunction, suggesting that the problem isn’t just being sent.
The study found that computer use was linked to lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in participants’ blood, which stimulates sperm production.
The authors wrote: “The present study provided substantial evidence of a positive causal association between computer use and the risk of erectile dysfunction. »
“However, a definitive causal association needs to be established through further research.”
The researchers did not specify what leisure activities the participants engaged in in front of the computer, although previous research has shown that men who regularly watch pornography may be more likely to develop erectile dysfunction because unrealistic expectations of pornography makes them indifferent to regular sex.
Northeastern states like Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire have relatively high median ages for erectile dysfunction, which is more common in older men.
The researchers examined 223,805 men aged 40 to 69, most of whom (217,630) were controls.
They then measured levels of testosterone and FSH, as well as other hormones like prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH), as well as levels of depression and anxiety.
Spending 1.2 hours of free time on a computer was associated with a 3.5 times higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction.
However, driving or watching TV did not make participants more likely to develop erectile dysfunction.
The researchers found that the participants had lower levels of FSH, a hormone produced by the brain’s pituitary gland and which affects the functioning of a woman’s ovaries or a man’s testicles.
In men, it circulates in the blood and binds to receptors in the testicles.
In tandem with testosterone, FSH stimulates and maintains sperm production.
In addition to erectile dysfunction, low FSH levels have been linked to decreased libido, infertility, and lack of energy.
The researchers noted that the study had several limitations, including evaluating only men aged 40 to 69, even though erectile dysfunction is more common in those over 70.
Additionally, the severity of the erectile dysfunction was unclear.
“Therefore, it could only be concluded that the longer the time spent using a computer, the more likely erectile dysfunction was to occur, but the risk of developing a specific type of erectile dysfunction or its severity could not be determined” , said the team. wrote.
Erectile dysfunction is very common and currently affects approximately 30 million men in the United States, up almost twice as many in the early 2000s.
The number of men seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction has soared in recent years amid what some have described as a “silent epidemic,” according to studies tracking scripts being filled for the condition.
This increase is linked to increased rates of obesity, poor mental health and overconsumption of pornography.
Erectile dysfunction occurs when you are unable to get or keep an erection long enough to have sex.
This condition can also lead to a lack of interest in sex.
For many, it is a short-term problem caused by factors such as daily stress, alcohol or fatigue, but some may suffer from it over a long period due to physical or emotional problems, or ‘a mixture of the two.
The study was published Wednesday in the journal Andrology.