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Effects of mobile phone radiofrequency radiation on sperm quality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2021

Romualdo Sciorio Open the ORCID record for Romualdo Sciorio [Opens in a new window] ,
Luca Tramontano  and
Sandro C. Esteves
Romualdo Sciorio*
Affiliation:
Edinburgh Assisted Conception Programme, EFREC, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Luca Tramontano
Affiliation:
Dèpartement de la Femme, de l’Enfant et de l’Adolescent, Hopitaux Universitaires de Genève, Genève, Switzerland
Sandro C. Esteves
Affiliation:
ANDROFERT, Andrology and Human Reproduction Clinic, Campinas, Brazil Department of Surgery (Division of Urology), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
*
Author for correspondence: Romualdo Sciorio. Edinburgh Assisted Conception Programme, EFREC, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH16 4SA, UK. E-mail: sciorioromualdo@hotmail.com
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Summary

In the last decades, the universal use of mobile phones has contributed to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation environmental pollution. The steady growth in mobile phone usage has raised concerns about the effects of phone radiation on male reproductive health. Epidemiological studies report a sharp decline in sperm counts in developing countries, and worldwide with c. 14% of couples having difficulties to conceive, many of which are attributed to a male infertility factor. Environment and lifestyle factors are known to contribute to male infertility. Exposure to heat, radiation, or radioactivity might induce damage to biological tissue organs, including the testis. Given the ubiquitous use of mobile phones, the potential adverse effects of the resulting environmental radiation needs to be elucidated further. It seems to be an apparent relationship between the increased exposure to mobile phone radiofrequency and sperm quality decline, but the evidence is not conclusive. Our review summarizes the evidence concerning the possible adverse effects of cell phone radiation on the male reproductive system, with a focus on sperm quality. Also, we critically analyze the effects of elevated testicular temperature and oxidative stress on male fertility and how these factors could interfere with the physiological activities of the testis.

Keywords

Male reproductive healthMedically assisted reproductionMobile phoneRadiofrequency electromagnetic radiationSperm quality
Type
Review Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , April 2022 , pp. 159 - 168
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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