[scroge435 (OP)]

I have read a study that has found that cell phones are associated with increased immature sperm among men:

Lifestyle factors that were positively associated with the percentage of immature sperms (high DNA stainability index) included: obesity and cell phone use for more than 10 years (P=0.02 and P=0.04, respectively).

I am wondering if this study warrants action, should we change how we use phones? I can only identify one flaw with this study, and that is that its population was from a fertility clinic. This seems like a selection bias as they are studying people who are already infertile (The study tried to account for this by only allowing those with normal sperm concentration to participate, however sperm concentration only makes up one of many factors that go into measuring fertility, this leads me to believe that they haven't accounted for the bias very well). I don't know how much of a bias this is, as they did measure the fertility of the population over time, and found that as time went on immature sperm (something that impairs fertility) rose amongst cell phone users, but it still seems biased and flawed.

What do you all think, is this a concerning study? Or is it one that is flawed and inconclusive? The study is titled 'Sperm DNA damage-the effect of stress and everyday life factors'.

[alancalverd]

It might make sense if you keep your phone in your underpants, but only politicians talk bollocks out of their backsides.

Far more likely that heavy users are more stressed.

[scroge435 (OP)]

It might make sense if you keep your phone in your underpants, but only politicians talk bollocks out of their backsides.

Far more likely that heavy users are more stressed.

Thanks for the reply! I'd agree with you that heavy users are more likely to be stressed, however, they accounted for that by adjusting the study for possible confounding factors:

Adjustment: age, past diseases, duration of infertility, time of sexual abstinence, stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, exercise.

[Petrochemicals]

I have read a study that has found that cell phones are associated with increased immature sperm among men:

Lifestyle factors that were positively associated with the percentage of immature sperms (high DNA stainability index) included: obesity and cell phone use for more than 10 years (P=0.02 and P=0.04, respectively).

I am wondering if this study warrants action, should we change how we use phones? I can only identify one flaw with this study, and that is that its population was from a fertility clinic. This seems like a selection bias as they are studying people who are already infertile (The study tried to account for this by only allowing those with normal sperm concentration to participate, however sperm concentration only makes up one of many factors that go into measuring fertility, this leads me to believe that they haven't accounted for the bias very well). I don't know how much of a bias this is, as they did measure the fertility of the population over time, and found that as time went on immature sperm (something that impairs fertility) rose amongst cell phone users, but it still seems biased and flawed.

What do you all think, is this a concerning study? Or is it one that is flawed and inconclusive? The study is titled 'Sperm DNA damage-the effect of stress and everyday life factors'.

Low sperm count is not a phenomenon associated with mobile phone  signals in my opinion, sperm counts have been falling for over 40 years. Its far more likely that soy in food (unfermented) and other modern chemicals such as plastics and Air pollution are responsible.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/soya-male-body-health-side-effects-truth-milk-sexual-function-a8382976.html%3famp

[Colin2B]

I have read a study that has found that cell phones are associated with increased immature sperm among men

This is a rather strange study and I’m not clear what they were hoping to be able to identify. It’s a small, highly selective sample of people with existing fertility problems from which heavy smokers, heavy drinkers and those with health issues thought to possibly affect their fertility, such as diabetes and vascular problems, were excluded - all lifestyle issues! Being a cross-sectional study you can’t point to any cause/effect.