Habits of cell phone usage and sperm quality – does it warrant attention?

Abstract

Male infertility constitutes 30-40% of all infertility cases. Some studies have shown a continuous decline in semen quality since the beginning of the 20th century. One postulated contributing factor is radio frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phones. This study investigates an association between characteristics of cell phone usage and semen quality. Questionnaires accessing demographic data and characteristics of cell phone usage were completed by 106 men referred for semen analysis. Results were analysed according to WHO 2010 criteria. Talking for ≥1 h/day and during device charging were associated with higher rates of abnormal semen concentration (60.9% versus 35.7%, P < 0.04 and 66.7% versus 35.6%, P < 0.02, respectively). Among men who reported holding their phones ≤50 cm from the groin, a non-significantly higher rate of abnormal sperm concentration was found (47.1% versus 11.1%). Multivariate analysis revealed that talking while charging the device and smoking were risk factors for abnormal sperm concentration (OR = 4.13 [95% CI 1.28-13.3], P < 0.018 and OR = 3.04 [95% CI 1.14-8.13], P < 0.027, respectively). Our findings suggest that certain aspects of cell phone usage may bear adverse effects on sperm concentration. Investigation using large-scale studies is thus needed.

Lifestyle and demographic factors associated with human semen quality and sperm function

“…However, we were unable to confirm the finding of previous studies which showed that increased fish intake was related to higher sperm count and sperm morphology (Afeiche et al 2014a). Finally, we did not find any significant association between trouser cell phone use and semen quality which was in line with one previous study (Zhang et al 2016), but different from others (Jurewicz et al 2014a;Zilberlicht et al 2015).…”

Fit to father? Online accounts of lifestyle changes and help‐seeking on a male infertility board

“…) and mobile phone use (Zilberlicht et al . ). Increased paternal age has also recently been suggested as a risk factor for fertility problems – a pattern that may be set to increase given wider social trends in Western societies relating to later childbearing (Ausmees et al .…”

“…The use of mobile telephones is also presented as a risk to their potential fertility and men are advised to change or reduce their use of this technology (Zilberlicht et al . ).…”

“…2 These developments potentially challenge a core idea within Daniels' conceptualisation of reproductive masculinity, that is, that men and male fertility are less vulnerable to reproductive harm than women and female fertility (Daniels 2006). Such studies and the corresponding media coverage suggest that male fertility is in fact compromised by factors such as smoking, alcohol use and stress (Fertility Weekly 2015), as well as caffeine consumption, obesity and diet (Jurewicz et al 2015, Rato et al 2014, Wright et al 2014) and mobile phone use (Zilberlicht et al 2015). Increased paternal age has also recently been suggested as a risk factor for fertility problemsa pattern that may be set to increase given wider social trends in Western societies relating to later childbearing (Ausmees et al 2014, Karavalos et al 2013.…”

“…Some scientists go further than this, suggesting that 'male partners of infertile couples should strictly abstain from alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking' (Gaur et al 2010: 40), and that dietary vitamin supplements should be taken (Wright et al 2014). The use of mobile telephones is also presented as a risk to their potential fertility and men are advised to change or reduce their use of this technology (Zilberlicht et al 2015). Almeling and Waggoner (2013) have argued that a historical absence of scientific evidence about the role of men and sperm in reproductive outcomes is a symptom of the invisibility of men in the reproductive realm per se.…”