Researchers have found an interesting connection between cell phone use and male fertility. According to a new study, cell phones increase testosterone levels but decrease the quality of sperm and fertility. The health implications of cell phone use has been the topic of many research studies, but this is the first to link cell phones to fertility problems in men. Researchers believe the reduced fertility is associated with luteinizing hormone. Levels of luteinizing hormone reduce with regular cell phone use.
Luteinizing hormone (LH) is typically associated with female fertility and the ovaries, but this hormone plays an important part in male fertility as well. LH facilitates testosterone production, which is another reason researchers are baffled at the study results. If cell phones lower LH, why and how do they increase testosterone levels?
Cell phones give off electro-magnetic waves or EMW. Experts believe these waves may promote cellular growth in the testes causing an increase in “general” testosterone. Simultaneously, EMW decreases the amount of luteinizing hormone so “general” testosterone is not converted into the formula needed for sperm production and maturation. Basically, men are left with higher “general” testosterone levels but the type of testosterone circulating in the blood does nothing for fertility.
If EMW are responsible for the reduction in luteinizing hormone, there is a chance carrying a cell phone in the front pocket could increase the impact on fertility. There is no mention of Bluetooth devices in the research study. In some research studies, experts suggest using Bluetooth earpieces or the speaker phone option to reduce the risk of health problems associated with cell phone use.
Researchers agree the testosterone theory is not proven, but the theory is a good start for further research. Until doctors and researchers find the exact reason why cell phones reduce fertility, they suggest men having trouble conceiving reduce the amount of time spent on cell phones.
The research study was completed at Queen's University in Canada and the Medical University of Graz in Austria. The two groups worked together collecting and analyzing study information.
Source: T. Gutschi, B. Mohamad Al-Ali, R. Shamloul, K. Pummer, H. Trummer. Andrologia. 28 March, 2011.