Men addicted to their mobile phones have lower sperm count, claims study

The sperm count of men who use their mobile phones regularly is a fifth lower than in infrequent users, researchers have found.

Swiss scientists recruited 2,886 soldiers between 2005 and 2018 and asked them to monitor their mobile phone use, then checked the quantity of their sperm.

They found that men who used their phones more than 20 times a day had an average sperm count of 44.5 million per millilitre, which was 21 per cent lower than men who used their phones just once a week or less.

Trouser pockets have no impact

The biggest effect was seen with older 2G and 3G phones compared with modern 4G and 5G versions, but there was no difference depending on where men carried their phones, with trouser pockets having no impact.

Although previous studies have suggested a link between the electromagnetic radiation emitted by phones and low sperm count, the research was often criticised for failing to take into account lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise.

However, the team from University of Geneva and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (TPH) found there was still a link even when allowing for lifestyle habits and general health.

‘‘Previous studies evaluating the relationship between the use of mobile phones and semen quality were performed on a relatively small number of individuals, rarely considering lifestyle information, and have been subject to selection bias, as they were recruited in fertility clinics,” said study first author Rita Rahban, of the University of Geneva. “This has led to inconclusive results.”

She added: “Do the microwaves emitted by mobile phones have a direct or indirect effect? Do they cause a significant increase in temperature in the testes? Do they affect the hormonal regulation of sperm production? This all remains to be discovered.”

Many studies have shown that semen quantity has decreased over the last 50 years. Sperm count is reported to have dropped from an average of 99 million sperm per millilitre to 47 million per millilitre.

This phenomenon is thought to be the result of a combination of environmental factors, hormone disruptors, pesticides, radiation and lifestyle habits such as diet, alcohol, stress and smoking.

Falling sperm counts impact fertility and the chance of pregnancy begins to decrease if sperm concentration falls below 40 million per millilitre.

A couple are likely to take more than one year to conceive a child if a man’s sperm concentration is below 15 million per millilitre.

Links found to brain tumours

Since 2011, radiofrequency radiation has been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans, after several studies found a link between mobile phones use and brain tumours.

Some biologists believe the type of radiation emitted by phones can open up channels into cells, allowing harmful chemicals inside, damaging DNA or leading to cell death.

Researchers found that the link between mobile phones and lower sperm count has decreased over time, which they believe may be to do with advancements in technology.

‘‘This trend corresponds to the transition from 2G to 3G, and then from 3G to 4G, that has led to a reduction in the transmitting power of phones,’’ said Dr Martin Roosli, of Swiss TPH.

Researchers did not find any association between mobile phone use and low sperm motility and morphology which other studies have reported.

However, British experts cautioned that factors other than mobile phones could be behind the drops in sperm counts.

Allan Pacey, professor of andrology at the University of Manchester, said: “We should be cautious about its interpretation as it only shows an association between mobile phone use and semen quality.

“We cannot be sure that the mobile phone is not a surrogate marker for another aspect of the men’s lifestyle or occupation that is the real cause of any changes to their sperm quality.

“If men are concerned, then keeping their phones in a bag and limiting their use is a relatively easy thing for them to do.

“But there is currently no evidence that will improve their sperm quality. I will be continuing to keep my phone in my trouser pocket.”

The study was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility.