Association between mobile phone use and semen quality: a systemic review and meta-analysis

PAPER manual Andrology 2014 Meta-analysis Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2014.00205.x PMID: 24700791 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Possible hazardous health effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations emitted from mobile phone on the reproductive system have raised public concern in recent years. This systemic review and meta-analysis was prepared following standard procedures of the Cochrane Collaboration and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and checklist. Relevant studies published up to May 2013 were identified from five major international and Chinese literature databases: Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, the VIP database and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library. Eighteen studies with 3947 men and 186 rats were included in the systemic review, of which 12 studies (four human studies, four in vitro studies and four animal studies) with 1533 men and 97 rats were used in the meta-analyses. Systemic review showed that results of most of the human studies and in vitro laboratory studies indicated mobile phone use or radiofrequency exposure had negative effects on the various semen parameters studied. However, meta-analysis indicated that mobile phone use had no adverse effects on semen parameters in human studies. In the in vitro studies, meta-analysis indicated that radiofrequency radiation had detrimental effect on sperm motility and viability in vitro [pooled mean difference (MDs) (95% CI): -4.11 (-8.08, -0.13), -3.82 (-7.00, -0.65) for sperm motility and viability respectively]. As for animal studies, radiofrequency exposure had harmful effects on sperm concentration and motility [pooled MDs (95% CI): -8.75 (-17.37, -0.12), -17.72 (-32.79, -2.65) for sperm concentration and motility respectively]. Evidence from current studies suggests potential harmful effects of mobile phone use on semen parameters. A further multicentred and standardized study is needed to assess the risk of mobile phone use on the reproductive system.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Meta-analysis

Effect direction

mixed

Population

Men; also includes rats and in vitro sperm studies

Sample size

3947

Exposure

RF mobile phone

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Eighteen studies were included in the systematic review (3947 men; 186 rats); 12 studies were included in meta-analyses (1533 men; 97 rats). Meta-analysis found no adverse effects of mobile phone use on semen parameters in human studies, while in vitro meta-analysis showed reduced sperm motility and viability, and animal meta-analysis showed reduced sperm concentration and motility with radiofrequency exposure.

Outcomes measured

Semen parameters (various)
Sperm motility
Sperm viability
Sperm concentration

Limitations

Frequency, SAR, and exposure duration were not specified in the abstract.
Human evidence in meta-analysis showed no adverse effects, contrasting with most individual human and in vitro studies in the systematic review.
Authors note need for further multicentred and standardized studies.

Suggested hubs

mobile-phones (0.95)
Focuses on mobile phone use/radiofrequency exposure and semen quality.
male-fertility (0.85)
Outcomes are semen parameters including motility, viability, and concentration.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "meta_analysis",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Men; also includes rats and in vitro sperm studies",
    "sample_size": 3947,
    "outcomes": [
        "Semen parameters (various)",
        "Sperm motility",
        "Sperm viability",
        "Sperm concentration"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Eighteen studies were included in the systematic review (3947 men; 186 rats); 12 studies were included in meta-analyses (1533 men; 97 rats). Meta-analysis found no adverse effects of mobile phone use on semen parameters in human studies, while in vitro meta-analysis showed reduced sperm motility and viability, and animal meta-analysis showed reduced sperm concentration and motility with radiofrequency exposure.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Frequency, SAR, and exposure duration were not specified in the abstract.",
        "Human evidence in meta-analysis showed no adverse effects, contrasting with most individual human and in vitro studies in the systematic review.",
        "Authors note need for further multicentred and standardized studies."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "mobile phone",
        "radiofrequency",
        "RF-EMR",
        "semen quality",
        "sperm motility",
        "sperm viability",
        "sperm concentration",
        "systematic review",
        "meta-analysis",
        "reproductive health"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Focuses on mobile phone use/radiofrequency exposure and semen quality."
        },
        {
            "slug": "male-fertility",
            "weight": 0.84999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Outcomes are semen parameters including motility, viability, and concentration."
        }
    ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Comments

No comments yet.