Hey Guys - There Could be a Fertility Hazard in Your Pocket

It’s hard to imagine a world without cell phones. Americans, on average, spend about 5 hours a day using their mobile phones, and typically keep them in a pocket a purse when they aren’t being used. So, how does all that radiation affect your body? While the overall risks are low, for men there’s a chance it could affect their fertility.

Cell phones, like most electronic devices, emit low levels of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in the form of radio waves while they transmit and receive information. It’s not a lot, but researchers have found that even small amounts of EMR can have an impact on sperm quality. Studies show that as little as one hour of mobile phone exposure per day can lower sperm mobility (ability to swim) and viability (ability to survive) by 8-9%.

For most men, that decrease shouldn’t have a major impact on their ability to conceive. To put it in context, sperm quality naturally decreases about 1-2% each year beginning in a man’s 30s and 40s. In addition, smoking lowers sperm concentration by 17% and alcohol can lower the sperm count by 33%. But while cell phone use may seem like a smaller fish to fry, if you’re trying to conceive, every little bit of mobility and viability helps.

While you probably can’t get rid of your cell phone altogether, if you are having fertility concerns, there are some steps you can take to minimize the impact of EMR.

• Spend less time overall using you cell phone.
• Utilize hands-free technology to put more distance between you and your cell phone.
• When you’re not using it, place your cell away from you, perhaps on your desk.
• Keep your cell phone out of your pocket.
• Avoid putting other metallic items in the same pocket as your cell phone. Research has found that the presence of metallic objects, such as coins, keys or rings, can intensify the impact of the radiation.

If you are experiencing infertility or thinking of having kids, it’s not too late to change your habits. Fertility experts say to look to modifying your health and lifestyle to help with your fertility.