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DNA & Genetic Damage

The semen quality of the mobile phone users.

No Effects Found

Rago R, Salacone P, Caponecchia L, Sebastianelli A, Marcucci I, Calogero AE, Condorelli R, Vicari E, Morgia G, Favilla V, Cimino S, Arcoria AF, La Vignera S · 2013

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Heavy cell phone users (4+ hours daily) show increased sperm DNA damage, especially when carrying phones in pants pockets.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Italian researchers studied 63 men to see how cell phone use affects sperm quality, dividing them into groups based on daily usage from none to over 4 hours. While most sperm measurements stayed normal, men using phones more than 4 hours daily showed significantly more DNA damage in their sperm, with the worst effects in those who kept phones in their pants pockets. This suggests that heavy cell phone use, especially when carried close to reproductive organs, may harm sperm DNA integrity.

Study Details

To evaluate the conventional and some of the main biofunctional sperm parameters in healthy men according to the different use of the mobile phone.

All the enrolled subjects in this study were divided into four groups according to their active cell...

None of the conventional sperm parameters examined were significantly altered. However, the group D ...

These results suggest that the sperm DNA fragmentation could represent the only parameter significantly altered in the subjects who use the mobile phone for more than 4 h/day and in particular for those who use the device in the pocket of the trousers.

Cite This Study
Rago R, Salacone P, Caponecchia L, Sebastianelli A, Marcucci I, Calogero AE, Condorelli R, Vicari E, Morgia G, Favilla V, Cimino S, Arcoria AF, La Vignera S (2013). The semen quality of the mobile phone users. J Endocrinol Invest. 36(11):970-974, 2013. .
Show BibTeX
@article{r_2013_the_semen_quality_of_3319,
  author = {Rago R and Salacone P and Caponecchia L and Sebastianelli A and Marcucci I and Calogero AE and Condorelli R and Vicari E and Morgia G and Favilla V and Cimino S and Arcoria AF and La Vignera S},
  title = {The semen quality of the mobile phone users.},
  year = {2013},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23722985/},
}
PubMed: 23722985

Cited By (56 papers)

View all 56 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Cell phone radiation doesn't significantly affect most sperm quality measures, but a 2013 Italian study found men using phones over 4 hours daily showed increased DNA damage in sperm, especially when carrying phones in pants pockets.
Yes, mobile phones may cause sperm DNA damage with heavy use. Research on 63 men found significantly higher DNA fragmentation in sperm from those using phones more than 4 hours daily, particularly pocket carriers.
Keeping your phone in pants pockets may harm sperm DNA integrity. A 2013 study found men who carried phones in trouser pockets showed higher rates of sperm DNA fragmentation compared to other carrying methods.
Phone use over 4 hours daily may affect male fertility through sperm DNA damage. Italian researchers found this usage threshold significantly increased DNA fragmentation in sperm, while shorter usage periods showed no effects.
Phone radiation may damage male reproductive health through sperm DNA effects. While most sperm parameters remain normal, heavy users (4+ hours daily) show increased DNA fragmentation, suggesting potential fertility impacts from excessive exposure.