What is harmful for male fertility: cell phone or the wireless Internet?

Kaohsiung J Med Sci · 2015 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 2726

Study snapshot

PublicationKaohsiung J Med Sci · 2015

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to assess the potential harmful effects of radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation on sperm parameters. We requested semen for analyses from the male patients coming to our infertility division and also asked them to fill out an anonymous questionnaire. We queried their mobile phone and wireless Internet usage frequencies in order to determine their radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation exposure. A total of 1082 patients filled the questionnaire but 51 of them were excluded from the study because of azoospermia. There was no significant difference between sperm counts and sperm morphology excluding sperm motility, due to mobile phone usage period, (p = 0.074, p = 0.909, and p = 0.05, respectively). The total motile sperm count and the progressive motile sperm count decreased due to the increase of internet usage (p = 0.032 and p = 0.033, respectively). In line with the total motile sperm count, progressive motile sperm count also decreased with wireless Internet usage compared with the wired Internet connection usage (p = 0.009 and p = 0.018, respectively). There was a negative correlation between wireless Internet usage duration and the total sperm count (r = -0.089, p = 0.039). We have also explored the negative effect of wireless Internet use on sperm motility according to our preliminary results.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecross_sectional

Effect directionharm

PopulationMale patients attending an infertility division (infertility clinic patients)

Sample size1031

ExposureRF · self-reported mobile phone usage period; internet usage duration/frequency; wireless vs wired internet connection

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Among 1031 men (1082 surveyed; 51 excluded for azoospermia), sperm count and morphology did not differ significantly by mobile phone usage period, while sperm motility was borderline (p=0.05). Increasing internet usage was associated with lower total motile and progressive motile sperm counts (p=0.032; p=0.033). Wireless internet use (vs wired) was associated with lower total motile and progressive motile sperm counts (p=0.009; p=0.018), and wireless internet usage duration showed a small negative correlation with total sperm count (r=-0.089, p=0.039).

Outcomes measured

sperm count
sperm morphology
sperm motility
total motile sperm count
progressive motile sperm count

Limitations

Exposure was based on self-reported questionnaire (potential misclassification/recall bias).
Cross-sectional/observational design limits causal inference.
Clinic-based infertility population may limit generalizability.
No RF exposure metrics reported (e.g., frequency, power density, SAR).
Potential confounding factors not described in the abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone, wireless Internet (Wi‑Fi)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "self-reported mobile phone usage period; internet usage duration/frequency; wireless vs wired internet connection"
  },
  "population": "Male patients attending an infertility division (infertility clinic patients)",
  "sample_size": 1031,
  "outcomes": [
    "sperm count",
    "sperm morphology",
    "sperm motility",
    "total motile sperm count",
    "progressive motile sperm count"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Among 1031 men (1082 surveyed; 51 excluded for azoospermia), sperm count and morphology did not differ significantly by mobile phone usage period, while sperm motility was borderline (p=0.05). Increasing internet usage was associated with lower total motile and progressive motile sperm counts (p=0.032; p=0.033). Wireless internet use (vs wired) was associated with lower total motile and progressive motile sperm counts (p=0.009; p=0.018), and wireless internet usage duration showed a small negative correlation with total sperm count (r=-0.089, p=0.039).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure was based on self-reported questionnaire (potential misclassification/recall bias).",
    "Cross-sectional/observational design limits causal inference.",
    "Clinic-based infertility population may limit generalizability.",
    "No RF exposure metrics reported (e.g., frequency, power density, SAR).",
    "Potential confounding factors not described in the abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation",
    "male fertility",
    "sperm parameters",
    "sperm motility",
    "mobile phone",
    "wireless internet",
    "Wi-Fi",
    "infertility clinic"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.55,
      "reason": "Study evaluates wireless internet (Wi‑Fi) use and sperm parameters."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.kjms.2015.06.006
PubMed: 26362961

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