Mobile phones affect multiple sperm quality traits: a meta-analysis [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

• Published in: F1000 research Vol. 2; p. 40
• Main Authors: Dama, Madhukar Shivajirao, Bhat, M Narayana
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: England F1000Research 2013; F1000 Research Ltd
• Subjects: Global Health; Male Infertility; Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility; Systematic Review
• ISSN: 2046-1402; 2046-1402
• DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.2-40.v1

As mobile phone usage is growing rapidly, there is a need for a comprehensive analysis of the literature to inform scientific debates about the adverse effects of mobile phone radiation on sperm quality traits. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of the eligible published research studies on human males of reproductive age. Eleven studies were eligible for this analysis. Based on the meta-analysis, mobile phone use was significantly associated with deterioration in semen quality (Hedges's g = -0.547; 95% CI: -0.713, -0.382; p < 0.001). The traits particularly affected adversely were sperm concentration, sperm morphology, sperm motility, proportion of non-progressive motile sperm (%), proportion of slow progressive motile sperm (%), and sperm viability. Direct exposure of spermatozoa to mobile phone radiation with
in vitro study designs also significantly deteriorated the sperm quality (Hedges's g = -2.233; 95% CI: -2.758, -1.708;
p < 0.001), by reducing straight line velocity, fast progressive motility, Hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test score, major axis (µm), minor axis (µm), total sperm motility, perimeter (µm), area (µm
2), average path velocity, curvilinear velocity, motile spermatozoa, and  acrosome reacted spermatozoa (%). The strength of evidence for the different outcomes varied from very low to very high. The analysis shows that mobile phone use is possibly associated with a number of deleterious effects on the spermatozoa.