Epidemiological study (observational study)

Habits of cell phone usage and sperm quality - does it warrant attention? epidem.

By: Zilberlicht A, Wiener-Megnazi Z, Sheinfeld Y, Grach B, Lahav-Baratz S, Dirnfeld M

Published in: Reprod Biomed Online 2015; 31 (3): 421-426

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A study was conducted in Israel to investigate the association between habits of cell phone usage and semen quality.

Further details

Semen quality was assessed using four parameters (volume, concentration, motility and morphology) according to the criteria of the World Health Organization.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

reproductive effects and pregnancy outcomes: sperm quality

Type of risk estimation:

prevalence

Exposure

- mobile communications
- mobile phone

Assessment

questionnaire: daily habits of cell phone usage such as the number of devices used and the duration of daily use (talking); usual location of the device while talking, carrying and charging; use of hands-free devices and earphones; number of years that an individual owned a cell phone, talking while the device is being charged and talking in low reception areas (e.g. elevators and underground floors)

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Reference group 1	total daily talking time: ≤ 1 h
Group 2	total daily talking time: > 1 h
Reference group 3	talk while charging the device: no
Group 4	talk while charging the device: yes
Reference group 5	distance from groin when not in use: > 50 cm
Group 6	distance from groin when not in use: ≤ 50 cm

Population

Group:
- men
Age: 25–51 years
Characteristics: male patients who underwent a first-time semen analysis as a part of infertility workup
Observation period: 2011 - 2012
Study location: Israel
Data source: Fertility and in vitro Fertilization division of Carmel Medical Centre, Haifa, Israel
Exclusion criteria: chronic or acute medical conditions that have been associated with a decrease in semen quality (e.g. long-standing diabetes mellitus, hypertension, varicocele, orchitis); smoking > 10 pack-years, consumption of > 1 liter of alcoholic beverage/day

Study size

Type	Value
Total	106
Evaluable	80

Statistical analysis method:

logistic regression

Results (acc. to author)

No associations were found between any of the factors investigated and between semen volume and motility. Abnormal semen morphology was found in only one man and therefore not further considered.
Talking for more than 1 h/day and during device charging was associated with lower semen concentration. Among men who reported holding their phones less than 50 cm from the groin, a non-significantly lower sperm concentration was found. Multivariate analysis revealed that talking while charging the device (OR 4.13, CI 1.28-13.3) and smoking were risk factors for lower sperm concentration (OR 3.04, CI 1.1-8.13).
The authors conclude that certain aspects of mobile phone usage may bear adverse effects on sperm concentration.

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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