Publication:

Does use of mobile phone affect human semen profile?

Background Mobile telephony is not very old technology. It functions based on electro-magnetic radiation (EMR).   Mobile users are rapidly increasing every day and this technology is advancing rapidly. Scientists have demonstrated that EMR affects the human health and reproductive system too.  Some other scientists revealed that mobile telephony does not affect human health. Our preliminary studies have shown that mobile telephony has some correlation with human semen profile in the exposure dependent manner. Therefore, this study was planned in male human volunteers to reassess the possible effects of mobile telephony on human semen profile in our infertility centre.

Methods 74- human male volunteers consented and included in our research study. Their mobile phone placing, use hour/day was recorded and these volunteers were placed in three Groups- A, B and C (exposure of mobile telephony was 3-4 hrs, 5-6 hrs and 7-8 hrs respectively and approximately).

Results Semen analysis was done using WHO method manual in our infertility research centre, Bangaluru, India. Semen analysis shows that decline in sperm density, motility (quantitatively and qualitatively) and enhanced percentage of abnormal sperm. It appears to be associated with duration exposure dependant as we found in our earlier study.

Conclusions In conclusion, we may say that decline in sperm density, motility and enhanced percentage of sperm abnormalities may be associated with the use of mobile telephony along with other factors. Further research studies are needed to ascertain the possible effects of mobile telephony on human male reproductive health.