Can mobile phone use affect male fertility?

2 mins to read

A recent study has discovered that there may be a link between mobile phone use and male fertility. Online personal trainer Andrew Cate takes a closer look at the research and gives some tips on how you can reduce the impact on your health.

Pregnancy and preconception

Mobile phones and your health

Mobile phones have become a near essential modern day tool for every man, from day traders to tradesmen. There are even cases where people are getting rid of land lines and relying on their mobile exclusively.

Yet mobile phones emit radiofrequency electromagnetic waves (EMW) which are thought to have a number of potential unpleasant effects on different parts of the body. A growing body of research has highlighted a possible danger to wannabe dads who use mobile phones frequently.

The research

A study published in the journal Andrologia suggested that men who used mobile phones frequently had no reduction in sperm count, but a reduction in sperm quality.

This included a reduction in motility (the ability of the sperm to move and swim) and reduced sperm morphology (an indication of healthy size and shape).

The researchers concluded that mobile phones may negatively affect sperm quality in men and may impair male fertility. They also suggested men with poor sperm quality planning for pregnancy should be advised not to use a mobile phone extensively.

How to reduce your exposure to electromagnetic waves from mobile phones

While more research is needed to determine the exact ways in which EMV affects male fertility, it makes sense to reduce your exposure. The following tips offer some practical advice on how to minimise the impact of mobile phones on your health.

Keep your phone out of your pants pocket – If your phone is switched on, keep it away from your testicles by placing it on a bench, table or desk instead of in your pocket.
Use your phone less – Use your phone for urgent matters only, and keep your conversations short and to the point.
Text more – Send a text message instead of calling, because you hold the phone further away from the body.
Use a wired headset – A wired headset allows you to use your phone while keeping it further away from your body.
Use a land line more often – It may be hard to break the mobile phone habit, but using a land line at home or at work (especially for longer calls) will help to reduce your exposure to EMV.
Turn your phone off regularly – Your phone can emit EMV whenever it’s switched on, even if you’re not making a call. Switch your phone to off, offline or flight mode as much as possible – this may also encourage others to text or email you, or leave brief and succinct messages that ultimately reduce your overall phone use.
Focus on fertility – If you own a mobile phone, and fertility is an important health issue to you, focus on other factors that influence your sperm quality. This includes moderating your soy, caffeinated soft drink and alcohol intake.

References available on request