Are cell phones contributing to infertility? According to a recent report by Cleveland Clinic researchers, cell phones are associated with lower sperm counts. A study of 361 men over a 13-month period showed that sperm count decreased the more men used cell phones.
Participants who talked on a cell phone for more than four hours a day had the lowest average sperm counts (50 million per milliliter), while those without phones had the highest (86 million per milliliter). For the study, men were asked about cell phone use and habits in addition to having their sperm quantity and quality tested.
While no causal link between cell phone use and sperm count was shown in the study, researchers have a few theories about the results.
One possible culprit could be the energy generated by a cell phone. "If they're operating the phone near their waist, it could raise the temperature of the testes slightly," says Ashok Agarwal, Ph.D., HCLD, Director of Research at the Reproductive Research Center at Cleveland Clinic and one of the study's investigators. "A slight increase in temperature could result in a decreased sperm condition."
Dr. Agarwal says another possible explanation is that holding a cell phone near the ear for extended periods of time could expose the hypothalamus -- a region of the brain that helps govern metabolic and autonomic functions -- to excessive electromagnetic energy, possibly affecting the hormones governing sperm production.
More research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn. But the good news is that when it comes to sperm counts, the "low" end of normal is around 20 million per milliliter.
