Guys, if you and your partner are looking to be in the family way, you may want to reduce your smartphone usage, or at least keep your phone out of your front pants pocket.
A recent study from England’s University of Exeter found that the low-level electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by cellphones negatively impacts the quality of human sperm. According to Time:
In their new research, they analyzed 10 previous studies, seven of which involved the study of sperm motility, concentration and viability in the lab, and three that included male patients at fertility clinics. Overall, among the 1,492 samples, exposure to cellphone EMR lowered sperm motility by 8 percent, and viability by 9 percent.
In other words, 50 to 80 percent of sperm from men who weren’t exposed to cellphones swam normally toward an egg. That number was reduced by about 8 percent for men who routinely use cellphones. Sperm viability, the proportion of sperm that are alive, was also lower for routine cellphone users.
Fiona Mathews, who led the study, told The Huffington Post that more research needs to be conducted on cellphones’ impact on sperm.
“I would not argue that use of a phone is going to suddenly make men infertile,” said Mathews. “However, given the increasing use of wireless devices, and general declines in sperm quality seen over the last 10 to 20 years across the developed world, this is certainly an area that is in urgent need of research.”
To be on the safe side, Mathews recommends that men remove their phone from their front pants pocket. She also said it’s beneficial to “keep things loose and cool down there by wearing loose-fitting underwear and avoiding activities that keep genitals overheated for a long amount of time.”
This isn’t the first time cellphones have been linked to a medical concern. We recently told you that cellphones could potentially harm babies in the womb. Some people have also been found to be allergic to the metal in certain cellphones.
Men, where do you carry your cellphone? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.
This article was originally published on MoneyTalksNews.com as 'Men, Think Twice About Carrying Your Cellphone in Your Pocket'.