Health
By Adriana Diaz
Published Nov. 1, 2023, 6:18 p.m. ET
Sperm Fail: The iPhone Pro-phylactic
A recent study has revealed a concerning connection between cell phone usage and sperm concentration in men. According to the study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, men who frequently use their cell phones experience over a 20% decrease in sperm concentration compared to those who do not use their phones regularly.
Research has shown a decline in semen quality over the past 50 years, attributed to various environmental and lifestyle factors. However, the impact of mobile phones on sperm concentration has not been fully understood until now.
The researchers expressed concern about the potential detrimental effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by cell phones on reproductive functions. To investigate further, a team from the University of Geneva and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute collected data and semen samples from 2,886 men aged 18 to 22.
Participants were asked about their cell phone usage and where they typically place their phones when not in use. The study found that individuals who picked up their devices more than 20 times a day had a 21% lower sperm concentration compared to those who used their phones once a week or less.
Interestingly, the study noted that the relationship between cell phone use and sperm concentration was most pronounced during the early years of the study, from 2005 to 2007, and gradually decreased until the study concluded in 2018. This correlation coincided with the transition from 2G to 3G and then to 4G networks, which resulted in a reduction in the transmitting power of phones.
The researchers believe that newer generations of mobile networks, such as 5G, continue to decrease the RF-EMF output power. This suggests that the potential impact on sperm concentration may be mitigated with the advancement of phone technologies.
In terms of where men store their cell phones, the study found no significant correlation with lower semen parameters for those who stored their devices in their pockets, which was the case for 85.7% of participants. However, the number of men who kept their phones away from their bodies was too small to draw any conclusive findings.
As researchers delve deeper into this topic, there is a call for increased investigations into male fertility and cell phone use, especially as mobile networks continue to evolve. The study’s first author, Rita Rahban, raises important questions about the potential direct or indirect effects of microwaves emitted by mobile phones. She emphasizes the need to explore how these microwaves may increase testes temperature or affect hormonal regulation of sperm production.
