Hot Seats, Laptops, Cell Phones and Sperm

"Calling" all men

Another recent study suggests that "cool" devices like cell phones may also affect fertility.

Cell phones have revolutionized communication. Like many innovations, however, these devices have been greeted with concern as well as celebration. Because cell phones emit radiofrequency electromagnetic waves, they can interfere with some implanted cardiac pacemakers—but only if the user holds the phone directly over the pacemaker. Similarly, cell phones have the potential to disrupt sensitive electronic monitoring devices in hospital intensive care units. Only a minority of monitors are vulnerable, and even then, only very close proximity between phone and monitor poses a risk.

Electromagnetic waves can also have biological effects. That's why some people worry that cell phones may cause cancer. Fortunately, many studies have failed to link cell phones to cancers of the brain, eye, salivary gland and the acoustic nerve in the ear. However, a 2008 study reported an association between cell phone use and benign tumors of the parotid gland, which is located beneath the lower jaw.

It's easy to see why scientists have wondered if cell phones might have ill effects on tissues in the head and neck. But researchers in Cleveland have asked quite a different question. Based on animal studies that indicate electromagnetic waves may damage testicular function, they wondered if cell phones might affect human sperm.

The researchers studied 361 men with an average age of 32 who were attending an infertility clinic. Men with medical problems known to affect sperm function were excluded from the study. Each man recorded his average daily cell phone use and submitted a semen sample, which was evaluated by technicians who did not have any knowledge of the subjects' cell phone use.

Forty men reported no cell phone use; 107 used cell phones for less than two hours a day; 100 men used cell phones two to four hours a day and 114 reported more than four hours of daily use. When the scientists analyzed the results, they found a steady decline in sperm count with increasing cell phone use. In addition, sperm structure, motility and viability all declined with increasing cell phone use.

It's only one study, and it did not account for possible electromagnetic wave exposure at work or for Bluetooth devices, computers or cell phone standby time. In addition, all the men were undergoing infertility evaluation. Still, it raises the interesting—and worrisome—possibility that new communication techniques may interfere with the outcome of old-style communications between men and women. Further studies are underway. And while you're holding the phone for additional results, please remember that cell phones do have one proven health risk: car crashes.

The bottom line

Men who are having fertility problems might be wise to limit cell phone use and to avoid conditions that might boost their testicular temperatures.

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