A new study conducted by a team of researchers led by Professor Martha Dirnfeld of Technion University in Haifa revealed that men who carry around their mobile phones in their pockets are lowering their overall sperm count.
The study tested more then 100 men over the course of a year. These men were directed to fill out descriptive questionnaires about their lifestyle, including their cell phone usage. The findings indicated that 47 percent of the men that kept their phones in their front pants pocket had lower sperm levels, compared to 11 percent of the general population.
Not only does having your cellphone in your pocket cause this decrease in sperm count, but talking on the phone as well. The study revealed that men who talked on their phone for more than an hour every day doubled their chances of having low sperm quality compared to those who spoke on their cellphone less.
Thermal effects of a mobile device could increase the temperature of the testicles, "cooking" the sperm and causing them to die, thus lowering the overall sperm count.
"The sperm levels were down to a number that would make conception difficult," said Dirnfeld, according to a press release. "If you are trying for a baby and it doesn't happen within a year, you might want to think of whether it could be your mobile phone habit that is to blame."
The study concludes that men that are planning to conceive in the future should consider decreasing their overall usage of their mobile device and keep it at least 20 inches from their groin.
The findings are published in the Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine.
