Heads up, all you men with cell phones. If you're keeping that handy device in your pants pocket you may just be limiting the size of your family.
Researchers claim that men who keep cell phones in a trouser pant pocket could be hindering their fertility.
That's the finding of new research from a team led by Dr. Fiona Mathews, director of biosciences and animal behavior at the University of Exeter. The study involved a systematic review of the findings from 10 studies, including 1,492 samples.
Earlier studies have indicated that pot smoking and sugary drinks may also be impacting fertility.
According to the university's research team, sperm movement drops about eight percentage points with exposure to mobile phones. The scientists note that previous research has indicated that radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from such devices can hinder male fertility.
Sperm viability is also potentially affected by cell phones, though the effect on sperm concentration was "unclear," states the release.
"Given the enormous scale of mobile phone use around the world, the potential role of this environmental exposure needs to be clarified. This study strongly suggests that being exposed to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from carrying mobiles in trouser pockets negatively affects sperm quality," said Mathews in the release. "This could be particularly important for men already on the borderline of infertility, and further research is required to determine the full clinical implications for the general population."
The study, "Effect of mobile telephones on sperm quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis" was published in the journal Environment International.
According to the study's abstract, mobile phones are used by most of the adult population.
"Around 14 percent of couples in high- and middle-income countries have difficulty conceiving, and there are unexplained declines in semen quality reported in several countries. Given the ubiquity of mobile phone use, the potential role of this environmental exposure needs to be clarified," states the study abstract.
"We conclude that pooled results from in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that mobile phone exposure negatively affects sperm quality. Further study is required to determine the full clinical implications for both sub-fertile men and the general population."
