High Cellphone Use Linked to Decline in Semen Quality, Study Finds
Fact checked by Nick Blackmer
New research found that frequent mobile phone use is linked to lower sperm concentration and total sperm count.
The study did not collect data on how participants used their phones; more research is needed to clarify this correlation.
Experts recommend men limit phone usage and remain aware of other lifestyle factors that can negatively impact semen quality like chronic stress, smoking tobacco, and STDs.
Are cell phones impacting semen quality?
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that sperm counts have dropped over the last 50 years.
Researchers are still trying to understand why semen quality is declining, but new research points to a possible suspect—cell phones.
Growing evidence demonstrates the impact of mobile phones on semen. The new study, published earlier this month in Fertility and Sterility, shows frequent use of mobile phones is linked to a lower sperm concentration and total sperm count.
This study is based on data from 2,886 Swiss men aged 18 to 22, between 2005 and 2018. Researchers examined the association between semen parameters (sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology) of participants and their mobile phone usage.
They found a 21% decrease in sperm concentration in men who used their phones more than 20 times per day, compared to men who rarely used a mobile device.
“We think that this trend corresponds to the transition from 2G to 3G, and then from 3G to 4G, which has led to a reduction in the transmitting power of phones,” study author Rita Rahban, PhD, told Health.
She explained that 4G is more efficient than 2G in data transmission, which can reduce use (exposure time).
It’s important to note that while the study does showcase how mobile phone use can impact semen quality, the study didn’t define how participants used their phones.
“This might also help us in further understanding potential mechanisms of actions,” Rahban said.
Additional research is needed to understand the relationship between mobile phone usage and how it impacts semen.
“Currently there’s not enough hard science to support or refute the idea that cell phone use affects semen quality,” Stanton Honig, MD, the director of Men’s Health and Urology at Yale School of Medicine, told Health.
Honig acknowledged that the study showed a reduced number of sperm at the population level, but it doesn’t suggest a cause and effect; it also does not correlate with a lower likelihood of getting a partner pregnant.
“Further studies are needed to better define this,” he said.
Here’s how mobile phone usage may be impacting sperm count and semen quality, and how men can combat these possible negative consequences.
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Related: How Much It Costs to Freeze Sperm—and Why You Should Freeze Yours Before 45
How Using a Mobile Phone Can Affect Semen Quality
According to Neel Parekh, MD, male infertility and men’s health specialist at Cleveland Clinic, several potential mechanisms include electromagnetic radiation, heat, and psychological stress.
He explained that cell phones emit RF waves—prolonged and frequent exposure to RF radiation could have a detrimental effect on sperm quality.
“Cell phones can also generate heat when placed near the testes,” he said. “Increased testicular temperature is known to be detrimental to sperm production and quality.”
Another factor to take into consideration is the psychological implications of overexposure to social media.
Parekh explained that frequent cell phone use—particularly social media—can lead to psychological stress. This can have a negative impact on reproductive health, including semen quality.
That said, researchers of the new study did not find any association between cell phone use on motility and morphology.
Some studies demonstrate cell phones may adversely affect semen quality by possibly increasing oxidative stress (wear-and-tear on sperm which leads to a less ideal environment) and reducing sperm concentration, motility, and or morphology and viability.
“The effects of cell phones may be positional especially when devices are kept in [a] front pocket in proximity to the scrotum/testes,” explained Matthew Wosnitzer, MD, FACS, a urologist specializing in male reproductive medicine and surgery at Bridgeport Hospital.
“Testes function optimally at a temperature less than normal body temperature, and it has been well-documented that sperm production decreases when scrotal temperatures are elevated from heat generated by cell phone, tablet, and laptop use,” he said.
The FCC has established specific absorption rate (SAR) limits for all cellular devices in the United States. These limits, however, do not necessarily account for the duration that a mobile device is kept in a specific position.
Larger studies of the effects of heat, EMF, and Wi-Fi produced by mobile devices are needed, Wosnitzer concluded.
Lifestyle Factors That Can Affect Semen
There are numerous lifestyle factors associated with a higher risk of male infertility, Parekh explained. These include:
Smoking tobacco
Excessive alcohol consumption
Being overweight or obese
A diet high in processed foods
A sedentary lifestyle
Chronic stress
Excessive heat exposure to the testes
Exposure to environmental toxins
STDs
Some medications
How You Use Your Phone May Not Matter
Researchers need more information on the kind of mobile phone use that impacts sperm count and semen quality. This includes call vs text, 4G vs 2G, and the location of the phone, like a pocket or hand.
“Location and duration as with any exposure likely influences potential effects of cell phones on testicles which are responsible for sperm production and majority of testosterone production in the body,” Wosnitzer stated.
He explained that calling versus texting, and 4G versus 5G, have not been well-studied, but you can assume that more data transferred over longer periods allows for a greater potential for heat and EMW exposure.
The new study didn’t show any association with where the phone was kept (like in the front or back pocket). Instead, using a cell phone more than 20 times per day correlated with a 30% increased risk of having a sperm count below the WHO reference value for fertile men, Parekh explained.
He added that the study noted a more pronounced association between cell phone use and sperm concentration at the beginning of the study compared to later dates.
“The authors believe this may correspond to the movement from 2G to 3G and 4G,” he said. “4G phones require significantly less power output and ultimately lower RF radiation.”
Combatting the Effect of Mobile Phones on Sperm Quality
To reduce potential risks associated with cell phone use, Parekh provides these general recommendations:
Keep your phone at a safe distance: When not in use, keep your phone in a bag or on a desk rather than in a pocket close to your testes.
Use a hands-free device: If you need to make calls frequently, consider using a hands-free device to keep the phone farther away from your body.
Limit phone usage: Reduce excessive use of your mobile phone, as it can lead to psychological stress and disrupt sleep patterns, which can indirectly affect semen quality.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Proper nutrition, regular exercise, and stress management are all essential for overall health, including reproductive health.
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