Men who use cell phones face increased risk of infertility

Researchers have warned that men who use mobile phones could be risking their fertility.

A new study led by a researcher at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., suggested that cell phones can lead to low sperm quality and decreased fertility in men.

They found that men who reported using cell phones not only had higher levels of testosterone circulating in their bodies, but also had lower levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), a reproductive hormone secreted by the brain's pituitary gland.

“Our findings were a little bit puzzling. We were expecting to find different results, but the results we did find suggest that there could be some intriguing mechanisms at work,” said Rany Shamloul, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and lead researcher on the project.

The researchers hypothesize that electromagnetic waves (EMW) emitted by cell phones may have a dual action on male hormone levels and fertility. EMW may increase the number of cells in the testes that produce testosterone; however, by lowering the levels of LH excreted by the pituitary gland, EMW may also block the conversion of this basic circulating type of testosterone to the more active, potent form of testosterone associated with sperm production and fertility.