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Bad news, chaps: your smart phone may be slowing your sperm. A new article claims studies show a “possible link between cell phone use and semen quality”.
The article, written by Dr Sandro La Vignera from the University of Catania, appears in the Journal of Andrology and looks at a number of studies on humans and animals. The results require further study, but the article concludes there does seem to be a link between phone use and sluggish sperm.
It seems the radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) emitted by mobile phones is linked to decreased sperm concentration, as well as motility — how peppy the sperm is; morphology — the size and shape of a sperm; and viability — the sperm’s ability to seal the deal.
The link is seen in subjects who carry their phone in their pockets — which means those guys who carry their phones in belt holsters are probably feeling even more smug than usual.
Studies include a 2008 study that examined the dangly bits of 361 chaps and discovered a link between their phones and decreased semen quality. Other studies found the same effect in animals.
Rabbits, exposed to mobile phone radiation for 8 hours a day saw a decrease in sperm concentration within 6 weeks. 8 hours a day on the phone? They didn’t half rabbit on.
It’s not clear whether a phone kept in a pocket is zapping your junk with invisible anti-sperm radiation, or the phone is heating up your nuts and the sperm are all, “Dude, it’s too hot to go swimming, we’re just gonna chill by the pool and have a couple of mojitos, you in? Oh bro, we’re out of ice. And pick up some ice pops too. Dang it’s hot.”
Our US cousins at CNET.com chatted to babymaking expert Dr Joel Moskowitz, who points out that your reproductive organs and your head are “highly sensitive”. So where do we put our phones? In our pocket or clamped to our head. Oops.
We should point out that mobile phones actually emit a very low level of radiation and are generally considered very safe. Studies have concluded that phones probably don’t cause cancer and don’t cause brain cancer in children. For the record, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro emits the most radiation.
Joking aside, infertility is a serious subject, and we feel for anyone affected. Will you be keeping your phone in your top packet from now on, or are you confident your swimmers can handle a little radiation? Use your thoughts to impregnate the comment section or our Facebook page.
