Fertility and Sterility
Volume 92, Issue 4 , Pages 1318-1325, October 2009

Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves (RF-EMW) from cellular phones on human ejaculated semen: an in vitro pilot study

  • Ashok Agarwal, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Ashok Agarwal, Ph.D., H.C.L.D., Professor and Director, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Desk A19.1, Cleveland, OH 44195 (FAX: 216-636-3118, 216-445-6049).
    • ,
  • Nisarg R. Desai, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • ,
  • Kartikeya Makker, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • ,
  • Alex Varghese, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • ,
  • Rand Mouradi, M.S.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • ,
  • Edmund Sabanegh, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • ,
  • Rakesh Sharma, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

Received 4 June 2008; received in revised form 31 July 2008; accepted 7 August 2008. published online 22 September 2008.

Objective

To evaluate effects of cellular phone radiofrequency electromagnetic waves (RF-EMW) during talk mode on unprocessed (neat) ejaculated human semen.

Design

Prospective pilot study.

Setting

Center for reproductive medicine laboratory in tertiary hospital setting.

Samples

Neat semen samples from normal healthy donors (n = 23) and infertile patients (n = 9).

Intervention(s)

After liquefaction, neat semen samples were divided into two aliquots. One aliquot (experimental) from each patient was exposed to cellular phone radiation (in talk mode) for 1 h, and the second aliquot (unexposed) served as the control sample under identical conditions.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Evaluation of sperm parameters (motility, viability), reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of semen, ROS-TAC score, and sperm DNA damage.

Result(s)

Samples exposed to RF-EMW showed a significant decrease in sperm motility and viability, increase in ROS level, and decrease in ROS-TAC score. Levels of TAC and DNA damage showed no significant differences from the unexposed group.

Conclusion(s)

Radiofrequency electromagnetic waves emitted from cell phones may lead to oxidative stress in human semen. We speculate that keeping the cell phone in a trouser pocket in talk mode may negatively affect spermatozoa and impair male fertility.

Key Words: Cell phone radiation, radiofrequency electromagnetic waves, sperm, fertility, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, EMW

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 A.A. has nothing to disclose. N.D. has nothing to disclose. K.M. has nothing to disclose. A.V. has nothing to disclose. R.M. has nothing to disclose. E.S. has nothing to disclose. R.S. has nothing to disclose.

 Supported by the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic.

PII: S0015-0282(08)03356-6

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.08.022

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 92, Issue 4 , Pages 1318-1325, October 2009

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