How Smartphones Affect Male Sperm Health
Last updated on November 20th, 2024 at 09:49 pm
10 minutes read.
“Hey! Don’t put your phone in your pocket it may render you infertile” If you’re a male you must have heard this statement before from people.
Are you wondering if this claim is really true and you decided to find out yourself what scientific research has said about this? I love your curiosity let’s find out everything in this article.
Presently, there is a rise in the use of mobile phones, laptops, and wireless internet technologies such as Wi-Fi and 4G, and 5G routers/modems across the globe; these devices emit a considerable amount of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) which could interact with the male reproductive system either by direct or indirect mechanisms.
The study, by Korean scientists, concludes that cell phone use is linked to lower overall sperm quality – its motility, viability, and concentration. And it’s worse for men with “high” cell usage.
Let’s get the details right away and what strategy you can follow to protect yourself and your family.
In this article:
What’s mobile phone radiation?
Cell phones emit radiofrequency radiation – a type of electromagnetic wave that studies show is linked to lower sperm quality, brain and salivary gland tumors, behavioral problems in children, and neurological problems.
Earlier research has shown that very high exposure to radiofrequency radiation can damage eyeballs and testicles.
Ten years ago, researchers were looking at sperm quality relative to whether study participants used a cell phone or not.
Back then, about 40 percent of adults in developed nations used a cell phone but usage has exploded in the past decade.
Nearly 75 percent of adults in developed and developing nations were estimated to use a smartphone in 2021, and now close to 98 percent own some type of cell phone worldwide.
The forecast number of mobile phone users from 2020 to 2025 worldwide reported that in 2021, the number of mobile users worldwide stood at 7.1 billion, with forecasts suggesting this is likely to rise to 7.26 billion by 2022.
There are many reasons you need to find the best way to protect yourself because you can stop using smartphones since they make lives easier.
Environmental Work Group Washington DC research found unambiguous statements in 10 studies about the changes to sperm caused by cell phone radiation.
A scientific review published by University of Exeter researchers in 2014 documented studies showing that men who kept their phone in a pocket or at their waist had lower sperm motility and viability than those who did not.
More so, much research has shown that placing your smartphone directly to your ear may pose cancer to your brain cells. Find out more here.
What Recent Research found
What have recent studies said about the use of smartphones and male fertility?
The conclusion of the result of one 2014 research meta-analysis stated that “Our analyses indicate negative associations between mobile phone exposure on sperm viability and motility”
“The effects on concentration are more equivocal. Further research is required to quantify these effects more precisely and to evaluate the clinical importance of the risk to both sub-fertile men and the general population”
Another more recent study published in the peer review Journal of environmental research on November 2021 stated that “Accumulated data from in vivo studies show that mobile phone usage is harmful to sperm quality. Additional studies are needed to determine the effect of the exposure to Electro Magnetic Waves from new mobile phone models used in the present digital environment”
Here is the details analysis of the study:
“The Korean scientists update”
Analyze this: Meta-review results
“We evaluated 18 studies that included 4280 samples. Exposure to mobile phones is associated with reduced sperm motility, viability, and concentration.
The decrease in sperm quality after RF-EMW exposure was not significant, even when mobile phone usage increased. This finding was consistent across experimental in vitro and observational in vivo studies”
The new study examines the impact of the duration of cell phone use on sperm quality – a more accurate reflection of how prevalent cell phone use is today.
However, the authors concede the new study is not perfect.
Reasons:
- One limitation is the complicating variables introduced by lifestyle factors, such as smoking, excess weight, alcohol consumption, and the use of tight underwear that might also harm sperm quality.
- Another limitation is that the meta-analysis included research that combined the effects of cell phone use and other sources of exposure to radiofrequency radiation, like wireless internet and Wi-Fi use, so it is difficult to determine the effects precisely.
The conclusion that exposure to cell phone radiation poses a risk to men’s reproductive health is valid nonetheless.
Much more research is needed, the author cautions, as more people own cell phones, and new mobile phones are released. And any new study should include data focusing on smartphone exposure in particular.
The impact of cell phones on male fertility is likely to grow as more people become regular users of smartphones, from an earlier age and for a longer duration.
Long-term cell phone use “is a factor that must be considered as a cause of sperm quality reduction,” the researchers conclude.
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Protection steps
Best Strategy to protect yourself
This is serious, we need stronger standards to protect everyone and especially children from harmful cell phone radiation.
Here are the best strategies the Environmental Work Group Washington DC research had recommended for everyone to protect themselves and their family from radiofrequency radiation exposure or smartphones:
These standards are for both children and adults as a revision to very outdated standards from the Federal Communications Commission.
Six Strategies to protect yourself from smartphone radiation:
YOUR HEALTH MATTERS.
At least six countries have issued warnings to consumers to reduce cellphone radiation exposure, especially for children.
SO MANY LIKELY RISKS.
More research is needed, but we can’t ignore the studies out there that suggest that caution is warranted.
IT’S A FACT
We do know that young children’s brains absorb twice as much cellphone radiation as those of adults.
Step one
USE A HEADSET OR SPEAKER
Headsets emit much less radiation than phones. Choose either wired or wireless. Experts are split on which version is safer. Some wireless headsets emit continuous, low-level radiation, so take yours off your ear when you’re not on a call. Using your phone in speaker mode also reduces radiation to the head
Step two
HOLD YOUR PHONE AWAY FROM YOUR BODY
Hold the phone away from your ear and your body when you are talking. If you are using a headset, don’t put the phone in your pocket or clip it to your belt—put it in your bag, purse, or on a nearby surface. The amount of radiation absorbed by your head and body decreases dramatically with even a small distance.
Step three
TEXT MORE, TALK LESS
Phones emit less radiation when sending texts than during voice communications. Texting keeps radiation away from your head.
Step Four
CALL WHEN THE SIGNAL IS STRONG
Fewer signal bars mean the phone must work harder to broadcast its signal to the cell tower. As much as possible, make and take calls when your phone has a strong signal. Research shows that radiation exposure increases dramatically when cellphone signals are weak.
Step Five
LIMIT CHILDREN’S PHONE USE
Young children’s brains can absorb twice as much cellphone radiation as those of adults.
Step Six
SKIP THE ‘RADIATION SHIELD
Radiation shields such as antenna caps and keypad covers reduce the connection quality and force the phone to transmit with greater energy, generating more radiation.
Related: Eating Eating Walnuts May Improve Your Reproductive Hormone: Here’s How?
Related: How does Sperm Morphology affect your Fertility?
Conclusion
Create a separate space for a Wi-Fi router if you have one.
Don’t keep it in your bedroom or right on the office desk.
For now, boys and men should make every effort to protect their sperm quality by minimizing their cell phone use and avoiding carrying their phones in their pockets.
I hope you get the value worth your time, I appreciate the time you spend with me. Leave a comment below if you find this article helpful and don’t forget to drop your question, opinion, or criticism if any. Cheers!
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The content provided in Living Good is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not intended to provide medical advice or take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal doctor. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Living Good Blog takes no responsibility for possible health consequences of any person(s) reading or following the information in this educational content. Viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medication, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program.
