Infertility is a big problem and a growing problem. It is thought to affect at least 14 percent of couples living in high and middle income countries. Nearly every country has recently noticed declines in sperm quantity and sperm health.

Almost every adult male living in these countries owns a mobile phone. Could there be a link? New research seems to confirm there is.

Mobile phones emit radio frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR), and this radiation has an effect on sperm development and function.  Recently a systematic review was conducted, followed by meta-analysis (review of past studies), to determine if exposure to RF-EMR emitted from mobile phones affects sperm quality. The male participants of these studies were from infertility clinics and research centres. Sperm were assessed for motility, viability and concentration. These are the typical parameters used in clinical settings to assess a man’s fertility.

The results of analysis were consistent between experimental in vitro (test tube) and observational in vivo (in real life) studies. According to the researchers, “We conclude that pooled results from in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that mobile phone exposure negatively affects sperm quality. Further study is required to determine the full clinical implications for both sub-fertile men and the general population.”

For many years it was thought that if a couple were having difficulties conceiving, it must be because of problems with the woman.  We now know that male factor infertility is extremely common and indeed male factors are currently responsible for around 40 percent of infertility.  Approximately one in 20 Australian men is now considered infertile!

Luckily, in the majority of cases male infertility is easier and faster to remedy than female infertility.  Most cases of male infertility are caused by problems with sperm production.  Sperm are incredibly sensitive to a man’s diet and environment. A man’s health is just as important as a woman’s health when preparing to conceive a child, as 50 percent of the DNA that makes up the child is contributed by the sperm.

Sperm problems are usually relatively quick to improve compared to infertility issues in women. This is because in women, structural problems such as cysts, adhesions or fibroids are common causes of infertility, and sometimes surgery is the only way to overcome them. In males, sperm production takes between 74 and 78 days. That means, if a man is prepared to clean up his diet, lifestyle and environment as much as possible, huge improvements in sperm quality can be achieved in this time frame.