--- description: That ringing in your pocket may be contributing to infertility title: Cell Phones Linked to Poorer Quality Sperm image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [fertility](/tag/fertility/) ## fertility Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Guys, Your Smartphone Is Hurting Your Sperm  by [Alice Park](/author/alice-park/)  ## Alice Park Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Jun 10, 2014 5:43 PM CUT  by [Alice Park](/author/alice-park/)  ## Alice Park Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Jun 10, 2014 5:43 PM CUT Even while the debate over whether [cell phones cause cancer](http://healthland.time.com/2011/10/21/why-the-latest-study-on-cell-phone-use-and-brain-cancer-wont-be-the-last-word/ "undefined") rages on, researchers are starting to explore other potentially harmful effects that the ubiquitous devices may have on our health. Because they emit low-level electromagnetic radiation (EMR), it’s possible that they can disturb normal cell functions and even sleep. And with [male infertility](http://healthland.time.com/2010/11/09/why-laptop-computing-might-not-be-great-for-fertility/ "undefined") on the rise, Fiona Mathews at the University of Exeter, in England, and her colleagues decided to investigate what role cell phones might play in that trend. In their [new research](http://www.eurekalert.org/pub%5Freleases/2014-06/uoe-mpn060914.php "undefined"), they analyzed 10 previous studies, seven of which involved the study of sperm motility, concentration and viability in the lab, and three that included male patients at fertility clinics. Overall, among the 1,492 samples, exposure-to-cell-phone EMR lowered sperm motility by 8%, and viability by 9%. (**MORE:** [Frozen Assets](http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2111234,00.html "undefined")) Previous studies suggested several ways that the magnetic fields might be wreaking havoc on sperm — they could be generating DNA damage by promoting more unstable oxygen compounds, or because most men carry their phones in their pants pockets, the fields, which can cause up to a 2.3°C temperature increase on the skin, could be raising the temperature of the testes enough to suppress and interfere with normal sperm production. (**MORE:** [Why the Latest Study on Cell Phones and Brain Cancer Won’t Be the Last Word](http://healthland.time.com/2011/10/21/why-the-latest-study-on-cell-phone-use-and-brain-cancer-wont-be-the-last-word/ "undefined")) Exactly how much the cell phones are contributing to lower-quality sperm isn’t clear yet — the researchers note that how long the phones are kept in pockets, as well as how much EMR the phones emit (most are legally required to stay below 2.0 W/kg) are also important things to consider when figuring out an individual’s risk. But the lab-dish studies do show that sperm are affected by the exposure, and that provides enough reason to investigate the possibility that cell phones may be contributing to lower-quality sperm and potentially some cases of infertility. More good reason to keep cell phones away from your body when you’re not using them — easier in theory than in practice, however. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/2850594/guys-your-smartphone-is-hurting-your-sperm/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/2850594/guys-your-smartphone-is-hurting-your-sperm/"},"headline":"Guys, Your Smartphone Is Hurting Your Sperm","datePublished":"2014-06-10T17:43:07.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T08:18:39.802Z","description":"It may be time to take the phone out of your pants pocket, gents. 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