A new study has found vaping could impact your down below.

Scientists wanted to see what impacts e-cigarettes had on testicle size and sperm count of rats.

Mice and rats have anatomical, physiological and genetic similarities to humans and that's why they're used during experiments.

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The researchers thought if something happens to the rats then it could also occur to humans who vape.

According to the Spanish medical journal Revista Internacional de Andrología, the findings were very interesting.

They took note of the size of the rats' testicles and sperm counts before they started their testing.

Boffins worked out the average rat had around 98.5million sperm per millilitre.

During the study, the creatures were then split into three groups.

One group was exposed to cigarette smoke from the Winston brand, the second was hit with e-cigarette vapours, while the third was the control group that didn't experience anything.

They were put in "specially-designed bell jars", according to Earth, and given the smoke or vapour twice a day for an hour each time.

The team then found sperm count dropped to around 95.1million when hit with the e-cigarette vapour and 89m when exposed to traditional cigarette smoke.

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The rats exposed to cigarette smoke had the smallest testes compared to the e-cigarette and control group.

In the most severe cases, they discovered some rats with stopped germ cell separation, cavity formation, necrosis, fibrosis and atrophy.

They also concluded: "The results of this study showed changes in testicular histopathology, spermiogram, and oxidative stress parameters of rats exposed to cigarette and EC smoke.

"Therefore, it should be considered that although EC liquid has been introduced as harmless in smoking cessation studies, it could increase oxidative stress and cause morphological changes in the testicle.

"Nevertheless, more research is needed to understand the post-exposure spermiogram results."

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The researchers said this study provides an "exciting opportunity to advance current knowledge regarding the effect of smoking and EC on the male genital system pathogenesis".

But an obvious limitation to this study is that it was done on rats and should be replicated on humans to ensure the data lines up.

In other health news, the WHO warned super gonorrhoea is on the rise and could be fatal.

New guidance on STIs requires countries to work towards improving access for better testing and diagnostic services.

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