Question

Laptop computers used on a lap by preteen and teenage girls leads to miscarriages later in life.

Comments

This is most likely a false claim as there isn't any poof provided in the claim other than a link to a instagram page which is not considered a reliable source. The Mayo Clinic states that " Receiving radiation in very high doses during the first two weeks after conception could cause a miscarriage", however the doses of radiation in the laptop aren't nearly enough damaging to cause a miscarriage. The Mayo Clinic states that there is a low possibility to have a miscarriage if you have multiple x rays in the first two weeks of pregnancy, there is a low chance of this causing damage developing the baby.

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This claim appears to be fake because there is no evidence to back it up.  No reliable sources are being claimed. They use the Mayo Clinic to be a source but there is no evidence showing that there is a high enough dose of radiation. There is not nearly enough radiation to cause a miscarriage. Multiple X-rays in the first weeks of pregnancy have more radiation than a laptop.

Answer 1

"Studies have found no evidence that exposure to computers is harmful to pregnant women."

This excerpt is taken from a site called BabyCenter and was medically reviewed by Sally Urang, MS, RN, CNM. While these degrees don't credit an in-depth understanding of radiation and its effects on a fetus, the sources cited conclude that there is no danger to any user.

This seems to be an evolution in a long-standing run of disinformation claiming that laptops will cause harm to pregnant individual's unborn children. This seems to stem from a fear of radiation due to mis/disinformation, and the fact that a high core temperature in pregnant people can endanger the fetus. It is important to note that the required temp to cause harm, cannot be not generated by a laptop.

The vast majority of resources and media found online disproving this claim, are targeting individuals who are already pregnant. This makes it a difficult to find resources on the specific claim posted here.

However, with the wealth of scientifically reviewed, cited, and studied information to be found online we can apply the same scientific understanding to this question. The claim is exaggerated, misleading, and definitively false.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22315933/

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/repro/nonionizingradiation.html

https://www.radiationanswers.org/radiation-and-me/radiation-reproduction/unborn-child/laptop-and-television-radiation-pregnancy.html

Answer 2

The claim is false. The radiation from a laptop is not strong enough to have a significant amount of damage to female fertility. https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/4/27/17286536/laptop-fertility-sperm-eggs-effect-external-heat-radiation

Answer 3

This is most likely misinformation. The link cited is an instagram post an account called pharmacy_ada that is not verified and does not have any credentials in its bio. I also could not find any research that supports this claim. In addition, the Mayo clinic says that the most common causes of miscarriages are Irregular genes or chromosomes and maternal health conditions. Some oither risk factors are being over 35, having a past miscarriage, uterine or cervical problems, smoking, alcohol, caffeine and illegal drugs, Genetic conditions, or weight. Finally, many fertility centers such as the Houston Fertility Center, say that laptops are unlikely to affect female fertility at all since the ovaries are internal and not exposed.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/symptoms-causes/syc-20354298

https://www.infertilityivfhouston.com/blog/2016/02/29/female-fertility-and-laptops-is-167423

Answer 4

This source is not true because there is no evidence that using a laptop on your lap directly causes miscarriages. Let alone there is no research on whether this can happen when girls are teenagers. Miscarriages happen for numerous reasons. It’s generally advisable to avoid keeping your laptop directly on your lap for long stretches of time if you are trying to conceive because the heat that computers can cause can either damage sperm or prolong periods. This is also a random TIk tok post and Tik tok is not always the most reliable source.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354304 

Answer 5

"Radiation Answers" says that since laptops don't produce a great amount of heat or radiation, placing them on your lap is not associated with pregnancy issues. They do mention that it is not good to do, but again, it is not associated with pregnancy issues. This is because the Food and Drug Administration passed a law in the 1970's that limited the amounts and types of radiation emitted from devices.

https://www.radiationanswers.org/radiation-and-me/radiation-reproduction/unborn-child/laptop-and-television-radiation-pregnancy.html#:~:text=Radiation%20From%20Laptop%20Computers%20and,(your%20thighs)%20is%20fine.

Answer 6

The source referenced is an Instagram post from an unverified account named pharmacy_ada, lacking any verifiable credentials in its profile. Moreover, there's no evidence from research supporting the assertion. According to the Mayo Clinic, the primary causes of miscarriages typically stem from irregular genes or chromosomes and maternal health issues. Other risk factors include advanced maternal age (over 35), previous miscarriages, uterine or cervical complications, smoking, alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, illicit drug use, genetic disorders, or obesity. Additionally, numerous fertility centers, such as the Houston Fertility Center, argue that laptops are unlikely to impact female fertility since the ovaries are internal and not exposed to such external factors.

Answer 7

This is misinformation, the heat/ radiation from laptops is not strong enough to create issues with female internal organs. This article shows a study from Stanford that came to the conclusion laptops will not affect male or female fertility but could factor in if they are already struggling with that issue.

https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/4/27/17286536/laptop-fertility-sperm-eggs-effect-external-heat-radiation

Answer 8

There is no scientific evidence or facts to back up the claim. The link leads to a TikTok with no evidence that laptops lead to miscarriages for young girls. This information is false.

Answer 9

After researching this claim, I found it to be misleading and have evidence that opposes it. First of all, the claim was taken from an Instagram post which does not hold much credibility. The screenshot also does not provide much extra information to back up the claim. I found an article on Tech Wellness that provides information from a scientific health research conducted by Kaiser Permanente, a reputable healthcare provider. Their doctors found that it was just women who were already pregnant and faced exposure to the certain radiation that were 3 times more likely to experience a miscarriage. However, this is just in regards to older women who are already pregnant and not younger girls who are not pregnant. https://techwellness.com/blogs/expertise/emf-wireless-phone-miscarriage-baby-health 

Another article (factchecked by a doctor) published on The Healthy Indian Project directly relates to the claim above and states it is not true that laptop usage on the laps of pre-teen and teen girls causes miscarriages later in their lives. They state this because there is currently no scientific evidence that would support this claim. They also encourage consulting healthcare professionals for more accurate information, compared to this claim, surrounding topics of reproductive health (which is a more reliable and safe option to get answers). https://www.thip.media/health-news-fact-check/fact-check-does-laptop-use-by-pre-teen-and-teen-girls-cause-miscarriages-later-in-life/62196/ 

Answer 10

This is most likely misinformation. The link cited is an instagram post an account called pharmacy_ada that is not verified and does not have any credentials in its bio. I also could not find any research that supports this claim. In addition, the Mayo clinic says that the most common causes of miscarriages are Irregular genes or chromosomes and maternal health conditions. Some oither risk factors are being over 35, having a past miscarriage, uterine or cervical problems, smoking, alcohol, caffeine and illegal drugs, Genetic conditions, or weight. Finally, many fertility centers such as the Houston Fertility Center, say that laptops are unlikely to affect female fertility at all since the ovaries are internal and not exposed.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/symptoms-causes/syc-20354298

https://www.infertilityivfhouston.com/blog/2016/02/29/female-fertility-and-laptops-is-167423