Association between mobile phone use and semen quality: a systemic review and meta-analysis

Andrology · 2014 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 2737

Study snapshot

PublicationAndrology · 2014

Study typemeta_analysis

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Possible hazardous health effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations emitted from mobile phone on the reproductive system have raised public concern in recent years. This systemic review and meta-analysis was prepared following standard procedures of the Cochrane Collaboration and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and checklist. Relevant studies published up to May 2013 were identified from five major international and Chinese literature databases: Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, the VIP database and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library. Eighteen studies with 3947 men and 186 rats were included in the systemic review, of which 12 studies (four human studies, four in vitro studies and four animal studies) with 1533 men and 97 rats were used in the meta-analyses. Systemic review showed that results of most of the human studies and in vitro laboratory studies indicated mobile phone use or radiofrequency exposure had negative effects on the various semen parameters studied. However, meta-analysis indicated that mobile phone use had no adverse effects on semen parameters in human studies. In the in vitro studies, meta-analysis indicated that radiofrequency radiation had detrimental effect on sperm motility and viability in vitro [pooled mean difference (MDs) (95% CI): -4.11 (-8.08, -0.13), -3.82 (-7.00, -0.65) for sperm motility and viability respectively]. As for animal studies, radiofrequency exposure had harmful effects on sperm concentration and motility [pooled MDs (95% CI): -8.75 (-17.37, -0.12), -17.72 (-32.79, -2.65) for sperm concentration and motility respectively]. Evidence from current studies suggests potential harmful effects of mobile phone use on semen parameters. A further multicentred and standardized study is needed to assess the risk of mobile phone use on the reproductive system.

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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 typemeta_analysis

Effect directionmixed

PopulationMen; also includes rats and in vitro sperm studies

Sample size3947

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Eighteen studies were included in the systematic review (3947 men; 186 rats); 12 studies were included in meta-analyses (1533 men; 97 rats). Meta-analysis found no adverse effects of mobile phone use on semen parameters in human studies, while in vitro meta-analysis showed reduced sperm motility and viability, and animal meta-analysis showed reduced sperm concentration and motility with radiofrequency exposure.

Outcomes measured

Semen parameters (various)
Sperm motility
Sperm viability
Sperm concentration

Limitations

Frequency, SAR, and exposure duration were not specified in the abstract.
Human evidence in meta-analysis showed no adverse effects, contrasting with most individual human and in vitro studies in the systematic review.
Authors note need for further multicentred and standardized studies.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "meta_analysis",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Men; also includes rats and in vitro sperm studies",
  "sample_size": 3947,
  "outcomes": [
    "Semen parameters (various)",
    "Sperm motility",
    "Sperm viability",
    "Sperm concentration"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Eighteen studies were included in the systematic review (3947 men; 186 rats); 12 studies were included in meta-analyses (1533 men; 97 rats). Meta-analysis found no adverse effects of mobile phone use on semen parameters in human studies, while in vitro meta-analysis showed reduced sperm motility and viability, and animal meta-analysis showed reduced sperm concentration and motility with radiofrequency exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency, SAR, and exposure duration were not specified in the abstract.",
    "Human evidence in meta-analysis showed no adverse effects, contrasting with most individual human and in vitro studies in the systematic review.",
    "Authors note need for further multicentred and standardized studies."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF-EMR",
    "semen quality",
    "sperm motility",
    "sperm viability",
    "sperm concentration",
    "systematic review",
    "meta-analysis",
    "reproductive health"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Focuses on mobile phone use/radiofrequency exposure and semen quality."
    },
    {
      "slug": "male-fertility",
      "weight": 0.85,
      "reason": "Outcomes are semen parameters including motility, viability, and concentration."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2014.00205.x
PubMed: 24700791

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