Your Phone or Your Fertility? The Pocket Hazard No One's Talking About
That smartphone in your pocket? It's affecting more than just your screen time.
Dr. Devra Davis, in her groundbreaking book Disconnect, explains how the environmental factors a man is exposed to in the months before conception play a crucial role in sperm health and ultimately the well-being of future children. And one of those factors might be right in your front pocket.
About Dr. Devra Davis: She is the founder of Environmental Health Trust, a scientific think tank focused on environmental health hazards. A former Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Founding Director of the Center for Environmental Oncology, Dr. Davis was also part of the team of scientists awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with Al Gore for their work on climate change. She has published over 200 scientific papers and has been at the forefront of research on environmental causes of cancer and chronic disease for decades.
The Male Fertility Connection
The evidence on mobile phone radiation and male fertility is concerning:
Studies from multiple countries—including the U.S., Australia, Japan, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, and China—have confirmed that cell phone radiation negatively impacts sperm quality. Men who keep their phones in their pockets for hours each day consistently show lower sperm counts and more abnormalities.
What makes this particularly troubling is the biology: the testicular barrier (the thin skin covering the scrotum) is approximately 100 times more sensitive to chemical and radiation exposure than other body parts. This makes sperm particularly vulnerable to outside influences.
Dr. Ashok Agarwal, author of over 400 peer-reviewed studies on male fertility, discovered that men with the lowest sperm counts were most likely to keep their phones on their bodies constantly. His research at Cleveland Clinic found that radio frequency electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones increase oxidative stress and decrease sperm motility, directly contributing to decreased fertility.
The numbers are stark: Men who carried their phones in trouser pockets showed significantly higher rates of immotile (non-swimming) sperm. Men in the highest cell phone usage group had sperm counts that were 40% lower than those who did not use cell phones during the study. The most severe sperm issues were found in men using their phones for four or more hours daily.
Even speaking on a phone for just one hour per day was linked to a measurable drop in sperm motility and viability.
The Reality of Declining Sperm Health
Here's something most people don't realize: the medical standards for "normal" sperm counts have been quietly lowered over time.
In the past, a healthy sperm count was considered above 60 million per milliliter. Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers just 15 million per milliliter "normal."
Why the change? Because global sperm counts have dropped so dramatically that what used to be considered subfertile is now the new normal. But normal doesn't mean optimal—especially if you're trying to conceive.
The Alarming Statistics
The evidence of declining male fertility is mounting:
Recent comprehensive research shows that globally, average sperm counts have fallen by 52% between 1973 and 2018, with the decline continuing at more than 1% per year.
A 2022 meta-analysis showed that sperm concentration declined by 53.3% and total sperm count by 56.3% in Western countries over the past 50 years.
For the first time, this research also documented declines in sperm counts in non-Western countries in Asia, Africa, and South/Central America.
Most alarmingly, researchers found that sperm count has been declining at more than twice the rate since 2000, showing a clear acceleration of the problem.
Today, approximately 1 in 6 people globally experience infertility at some point in their lives, according to the World Health Organization's 2023 report. This is higher than previous estimates of 1 in 8.
Of all infertility cases, 40-50% are attributed to "male factor" infertility.
In the United States, infertility affects about 15% of all couples, with men being solely responsible for about 20% of cases and contributing to another 30-40%.
These statistics paint a concerning picture, with environmental factors like those discussed above—including cell phone radiation—emerging as key suspects in this reproductive health crisis.
About Dr. Shanna Swan: One of the world's leading environmental and reproductive epidemiologists, Dr. Swan is a professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her groundbreaking 2017 study examined 185 studies involving nearly 45,000 healthy men and confirmed the dramatic drop in sperm counts. In her book Count Down, she explains how the decline is accelerating, with sperm counts dropping more than twice as fast since 2000 compared to earlier decades.
What About Women's Fertility?
Women's reproductive organs are inside the body, providing some protection from external exposures. However, this doesn't mean egg quality is immune to RF radiation effects.
Emerging research suggests that cell phone radiation can interfere with ovarian function and egg maturation. Scientists have observed that RF exposure leads to increased oxidative stress, which is known to damage eggs.
Melatonin plays a critical role in protecting eggs from oxidative stress, but exposure to EMFs from mobile phones can disrupt its natural production. While some people turn to melatonin supplements to counteract this, Rebecca Fett, author of It Starts with the Egg, notes that supplementation may not be effective—or even advisable—for those trying to conceive naturally. Since melatonin is involved in the regulation of ovulation, taking it could actually make conception more difficult. However, in IVF cycles where ovulation is medically controlled, melatonin supplementation might be beneficial.
Women who sleep with their phones near their heads or on nightstands may be unknowingly exposing their reproductive systems to chronic low-dose radiation every night.
The Unauthorized Experiment
Swedish neurosurgeon Dr. Leif Salford has described our current situation as "the largest biological experiment ever" conducted on humans. We're essentially participating in a massive, unauthorized trial without informed consent.
About Dr. Leif Salford: A renowned neurosurgeon and researcher at Sweden's University of Lund, Dr. Salford has conducted groundbreaking research since the 1980s on how microwave radiation (e.g. from cell phones) affects the blood-brain barrier. His studies were among the first to demonstrate that even low levels of radiation from mobile phones can cause leakage in this critical protective barrier, potentially allowing harmful substances to enter the brain tissue.
It Takes Two: Don't Ignore Male Fertility Even With Female Diagnoses
Even when a female partner has been diagnosed with a fertility condition like PCOS, endometriosis, or diminished ovarian reserve, male reproductive health should never be overlooked. Fertility is a shared journey, and optimizing both partners' reproductive health dramatically increases a couple's chances of conception.
Many couples make the mistake of focusing solely on treating the diagnosed partner, missing the opportunity to address potentially coexisting male factors that could be improved through simple lifestyle changes like those outlined below.
Protecting Your Fertility
If you're trying to conceive (or planning to in the future), here are practical steps to reduce your exposure:
Keep your phone away from your body. Store it in a purse, bag, backpack, on a desk or a table instead of your pocket or bra.
Use speakerphone or wired headphones (not Bluetooth) instead of holding the phone to your ear.
Text instead of calling when possible.
Turn on airplane mode when carrying your phone close to your body or in low reception areas.
Avoid sleeping with your phone near your head or pelvis. Charge it across the room or even better, in another room instead.
Reduce overall screen time to help with sleep quality and stress levels, both of which also impact fertility.
Remember:
For men: Sperm takes about 65-75 days to fully mature, but fertility experts recommend making lifestyle changes for at least four months before conception to maximize sperm health.
For women: The final stages of egg maturation occur in the last 3-4 months before an egg is released, making this a critical window for reducing exposure.
For couples who achieve pregnancy: Continue limiting RF/MW exposure during pregnancy to protect the developing fetus.
You don't have to give up your phone forever—just commit to safer habits during the preconception period. Although, it is highly recommended to lower your exposure during pregnancy, when the children are small, and even beyond.
It's a small adjustment that could make a significant difference in your fertility journey and your family's long-term health.
Want to learn more about protecting your reproductive health from environmental factors? Join WOVA today for evidence-based resources and community support.
References:
Adams JA, Galloway TS, Mondal D, Esteves SC, Mathews F. Effect of mobile telephones on sperm quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Environ Int. 2014;80:106-112.
Environmental Health Trust. Cell Phone Radiation Harms Sperm and Fertility. Published 2024. Accessed June 2024. https://ehtrust.org/cell-phone-radiation-harms-sperm-and-fertility/
Medical News Today. Male infertility: Can cell phone use impact sperm count? Published November 8, 2023. Accessed June 2024. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cell-phone-use-male-infertility
Kesari KK, Agarwal A, Henkel R. Radiations and male fertility. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018;16(1):118.
Fett R. It Starts with the Egg: How the Science of Egg Quality Can Help You Get Pregnant Naturally, Prevent Miscarriage, and Improve Your Odds in IVF. Franklin Fox Publishing; 2019.
Davis D. Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your Family. Dutton; 2010.
Blank M. Overpowered: The Dangers of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMF) and What You Can Do about It. Seven Stories Press; 2014.
Swan S, Colino S. Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race. Scribner; 2021.
Agarwal A, Deepinder F, Sharma RK, Ranga G, Li J. Effect of cell phone usage on semen analysis in men attending infertility clinic: an observational study. Fertil Steril. 2008;89(1):124-128.
Salford LG, Brun AE, Eberhardt JL, Malmgren L, Persson BR. Nerve cell damage in mammalian brain after exposure to microwaves from GSM mobile phones. Environ Health Perspect. 2003;111(7):881-883.
World Health Organization (WHO). IARC classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Press Release No. 208; 2011.
