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Health

Feb 25, 2008 4:09 pm US/Eastern

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Study: Cell Phone Use May Affect Man's Fertility

Reporting
Mallika Marshall, MD

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Cell phones emit radio-frequency electromagnetic waves, and with so many people now using them, there's been a lot of concern over whether they have any damaging effects on the brain or heart.

Now a new study suggests it may affect a man's fertility.

Researchers studied 361 men who were being evaluated for infertility. They found men who talked on cell phones more than four hours a day had lower sperm counts and less motility.

One possible reason could be the heat generated by the phones. "The impact could be at the sperm producing cells," said Dr. Thomas Toth of Mass. General Hospital. "And could be in a way that we don't know...and in ways we don't even really know."

Experts also aren't sure whether having the cell phone in your pocket or next to your head makes a difference. That's why mass general is currently conducting their own study to see how the frequency and type of cell phone use and other environmental factors may affect male fertility. "Male infertility is a very common problem," said Dr. Toht. "So the more we learn about it, the more we can help our patients."

Mass General Hospital expects to start reporting data from its own study over the next several years.

And remember, it's still not clear that cell phone use actually causes infertility.

In the meantime, there are some things men can do to help protect their fertility. Avoid smoking and drug use, limit alcohol intake, and reduce testicular exposure to heat, like in saunas.

All of these factors have been shown to reduce fertility in men.