Epidemiological study (observational study)

What is harmful for male fertility: Cell phone or the wireless internet? epidem.

By: Yildirim ME, Kaynar M, Badem H, Cavis M, Karatas OF, Cimentepe E

Published in: Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2015; 31 (9): 480-484

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of mobile phone and wireless internet (WiFi) usage on the sperm of men quality was investigated in a study in Turkey.

Further details

Sperm quality was evaluated according to WHO criteria (volume, liquefaction time, pH, viscosity, sperm count, total motility, progressive motility, cell viability and percentage of normal morphology).

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

reproductive effects and pregnancy outcomes: sperm quality

Type of risk estimation:

prevalence

Exposure

- 850–2,400 MHz
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- W-LAN/WiFi

Assessment

questionnaire: daily mobile phone use duration, habits of carrying the mobile phone (in the pocket of trousers, in a handbag, in the pocket of jackets), wireless internet usage duration, type of internet usage (wireless or wired)

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Group 1	daily mobile phone use: < 30 min
Group 2	daily mobile phone use: 30 min - 2 h
Group 3	daily mobile phone use: > 2 h
Group 4	daily wireless internet use: < 30 min
Group 5	daily wireless internet use: 30 min - 2 h
Group 6	daily wireless internet use: > 2 h
Group 7	internet use: wireless
Group 8	internet use: cable
Group 9	habits of carrying the mobile phone: in the trouser pocket
Group 10	habits of carrying the mobile phone: in the handbag
Group 11	habits of carrying the mobile phone: in the jacket pocket

Population

Group:
- men
Age: 18–63 years
Characteristics: healthy patients of an infertility clinic
Observation period: 2013 - 2014
Study location: Turkey (Ankara)
Data source: Andrology subdivision of the Urology Department, Turgut Ozal University
Exclusion criteria: history of orchitis, varicocele, diabetes mellitus, cardiac, neural or nephritic diseases, hypertension, family history of genetic diseases, viral/bacterial infection in the previous 4 weeks, in vitro fertilization history, azoospermia

Study size

Type	Value
Total	1,082
Evaluable	1,031

Statistical analysis method:

ANOVA
t test

Results (acc. to author)

No significant difference in sperm quality was observed between the three groups with different durations of daily mobile phone use (groups 1-3) (remark EMF-Portal: contradictory statements regarding the significance of motility between abstract and table 1 as well as text in results and discussion on the other hand).
Differences in total and progressive sperm motility were found between the groups with different duration of internet use via WLAN (group 4-6) as well as between groups with wireless internet use and wired internet use (groups 7-8).
The carrying habits of the mobile phone had a significant effect on sperm morphology but not on other sperm parameters. The lowest percentage of sperms with normal morphology was found in Jacket pocket carriers followed by trousers pocket carriers and finally handbag carriers with the highest percentage of normal morphology.

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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