The Effect of Microwave and Radiofrequency Waves of Mobile phones on Male Reproductive Cells: A Systematic Review of Recent Evidence
Abstract
Background: The increasing global use of mobile phones has raised concerns about the potential effects of microwave (MW) and radiofrequency (RF) radiation on male reproductive health. This systematic review aims to evaluate recent evidence (2015–2024) regarding the impact of mobile phone exposure on male reproductive cells.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using keywords such as “mobile phones” ,“sperm” and “reproduction.” Studies were screened based on predefined inclusion criteria, and data were extracted by year, geographic location, exposure frequency, and reproductive outcomes.
Results: The review revealed that sperm motility and morphology were the most frequently examined parameters. Experimental studies—particularly those involving animal models—dominate the literature, with a notable concentration of research originating from Asian countries such as India. However, a striking lack of cohort studies remains, limiting insights into long-term, real-world effects on human fertility.
Conclusion: This review highlights potential adverse effects of mobile phone exposure on male reproductive cells but emphasizes the need for standardized methodologies and additional cohort studies to fill existing gaps. Future research should prioritize well-controlled, longitudinal cohort studies to clarify associated risks and guide public health recommendations, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of mobile phone use.
2. Agarwal A, Baskaran S, Parekh N, Cho CL, Henkel R, Vij S, et al. Male infertility. Lancet. 2021;397(10271):319–33.
3. Zahmatkesh P, Mohammadi A, Mashhadi R, Khatami F, Mirzaei A, Baghdadabad LZ, et al. The impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves on DNA fragmentation index and spermatogenesis-related genes expression in rats. Int J Med Toxicol Forensic Med. 2024;14(4):215–23.
4. Kesari KK, Agarwal A, Henkel R. Radiations and male fertility. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018;16(1):118.
5. Jazyah YH. Thermal and nonthermal effects of 5G radio‐waves on human’s tissue. Sci World J. 2024;2024:3801604.
6. Maluin SM, Osman K, Jaffar FHF, Ibrahim SF. Effect of radiation emitted by wireless devices on male reproductive hormones: a systematic review. Front Physiol. 2021;12:732420.
7. Chu KY, Khodamoradi K, Blachman-Braun R, Dullea A, Bidhan J, Campbell K, et al. Effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by modern cellphones on sperm motility and viability: an in vitro study. Eur Urol Focus. 2023;9(1):69–74.
8. Shahin S, Singh SP, Chaturvedi CM. 1800 MHz mobile phone irradiation induced oxidative and nitrosative stress leads to p53 dependent Bax mediated testicular apoptosis in mice, Mus musculus. J Cell Physiol. 2018;233(9):7253–67.
9. Dong VNK, Tantisuwat L, Setthawong P, Tharasanit T, Sutayatram S, Kijtawornrat A. The preliminary chronic effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on heart rate variability, cardiac function, blood profiles, and semen quality in healthy dogs. Vet Sci. 2022;9(5):201.
10. Wang D, Li B, Liu Y, Ma Y, Chen S, Sun H, et al. Impact of mobile phone radiation on the quality and DNA methylation of human sperm in vitro. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2015;21(6):515–20.
11. Zalata A, El-Samanoudy AZ, Shaalan D, El-Baiomy Y, Mostafa T. In vitro effect of cell phone radiation on motility, DNA fragmentation and clusterin gene expression in human sperm. Int J Fertil Steril. 2015;9(1):129–38.
12. Zhang S, Mo F, Chang Y, Wu S, Ma Q, Jin F, et al. Effects of mobile phone use on semen parameters: a cross-sectional study of 1634 men in China. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2022;34(9):669–78.
13. Malini SS. Resolving the enigma of effect of mobile phone usage on spermatogenesis in humans in South Indian population. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2017;10(2):233–7.
14. Pandey N, Giri S, Das S, Upadhaya P. Radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in testicular germ cells in Swiss albino mice. Toxicol Ind Health. 2017;33(4):373–84.
15. Nassar SA, Algazeery A, Ahmed GAS, Abo El-Maaty WA. Histological, immunohistochemical and molecular alterations in immature mice testes due to chronic exposure to mobile phone radiofrequency radiation. Egypt J Hosp Med. 2020;78(1):128–35.
16. Nakatani‐Enomoto S, Okutsu M, Suzuki S, Suganuma R, Groiss SJ, Kadowaki S, et al. Effects of 1950 MHz W‐CDMA‐like signal on human spermatozoa. Bioelectromagnetics. 2016;37(6):373–81.
17. Pandey N, Giri S. Melatonin attenuates radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in germ cells of male Swiss albino mice. Toxicol Ind Health. 2018;34(5):315–27.
18. AJA R, Mathew E, Dhasarathan P, Athinarayanan G. Electromagnetic radiations on the functional potential of spermatozoa. Res J Biotechnol. 2022;17:10.
19. Jamaludin N, Razak SSA, Jaffar FHF, Osman K, Ibrahim SF. The effect of smartphone’s radiation frequency and exposure duration on NADPH oxidase 5 (NOX5) level in sperm parameters. Sains Malaysiana. 2017;46(9):1597–602.
20. Houston BJ, Nixon B, King BV, Aitken RJ, De Iuliis GN. Probing the origins of 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation induced damage in mouse immortalized germ cells and spermatozoa in vitro. Front Public Health. 2018;6:270.
21. Houston BJ, Nixon B, McEwan KE, Martin JH, King BV, Aitken RJ, et al. Whole-body exposures to radiofrequency-electromagnetic energy can cause DNA damage in mouse spermatozoa via an oxidative mechanism. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):17478.
22. Hassanzadeh-Taheri M, Khalili MA, Hosseininejad Mohebati A, Zardast M, Hosseini M, Palmerini MG, et al. The detrimental effect of cell phone radiation on sperm biological characteristics in normozoospermic. Andrologia. 2022;54(1):e14257.
23. Keskin İ, Karabulut S, Kaplan A, Alagöz M, Akdeniz M, Tüfekci K, et al. Preliminary study on the impact of 900 MHz radiation on human sperm: an in vitro molecular approach. Reprod Toxicol. 2024;130:108744.
24. Alkis ME, Akdag MZ, Dasdag S, Yegin K, Akpolat V. Single-strand DNA breaks and oxidative changes in rat testes exposed to radiofrequency radiation emitted from cellular phones. Biotechnol Biotechnol Equip. 2019;33(1):1733–40.
25. Yildirim ME, Kaynar M, Badem H, Cavis M, Karatas OF, Cimentepe E. What is harmful for male fertility: cell phone or the wireless Internet? Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2015;31(9):480–4.
26. B SK, Banu K, Selvi GP, Vendhan KE. Effects of radiation from mobile phones on fertility and the quality of semen in regular mobile phone users. Int J Appl Pharm. 2022;14:180–7.
27. Narayanan SN, Lukose ST, Arun G, Mohapatra N, Pamala J, Concessao P, et al. Modulatory effect of 900 MHz radiation on biochemical and reproductive parameters in rats. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2018;119(9):581–7.
28. Ramalingam S, Somanath D. The effect of ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves on sperm parameters in 4G-cellphone-EMR exposed rats. Eur J Anat. 2024;28(4):415–22.
29. Hagras AM, Toraih EA, Fawzy MS. Mobile phones electromagnetic radiation and NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase as a mitochondrial marker in asthenozoospermia. Biochimie Open. 2016;3:19–25.
30. Gevrek F, Aydin D, Ozsoy S, Aygun H, Bicer C. Inhibition by Egb761 of the effect of cellphone radiation on the male reproductive system. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2017;118(11):676–83.
31. Hatch EE, Willis SK, Wesselink AK, Mikkelsen EM, Eisenberg ML, Sommer GJ, et al. Male cellular telephone exposure, fecundability, and semen quality: results from two preconception cohort studies. Hum Reprod. 2021;36(5):1395–404.
32. Gharib TM, Almekaty K, Aal AMA, Abdel-Al I, Deif H, Hassan GM, et al. Effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves of mobile phone stations on male fertility. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2024;96(3):169–75.
33. Al-Bayyari N. The effect of cell phone usage on semen quality and fertility among Jordanian males. Middle East Fertil Soc J. 2017;22(3):178–82.
34. Amin AN, D’Souza JS, Moras CB, D’Souza N. Smartphones and the sperm: do smartphones have an effect on semen parameters—an analytical cross-sectional study in an Indian tertiary care centre. Biomedicine (India). 2022;42(2):342–7.
35. Chen HG, Wu P, Sun B, Chen JX, Xiong CL, Meng TQ, et al. Association between electronic device usage and sperm quality parameters in healthy men screened as potential sperm donors. Environ Pollut. 2022;312:120067.
36. Chu KY, Khodamoradi K, Blachman-Braun R, Dullea A, Bidhan J, Campbell K, et al. Effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by modern cellphones on sperm motility and viability: an in vitro study. Eur Urol Focus. 2023;9(1):69–74.
37. Fatahi Asl J, Shirbandi K, Rezaie A, Rastegarpour S, Pahlavani S, Ahangarpour A, et al. Short-term effects of cell phone radiation on fertility and testosterone hormone in male rats. Duzce Med J. 2021;23(2):151–6.
38. Yahyazadeh A, Altunkaynak B. Protective effects of luteolin on rat testis following exposure to 900 MHz electromagnetic field. Biotech Histochem. 2019;94(4):298–307.
39. Vafaei S, Motejaded F, Ebrahimzadeh-Bideskan A. Protective effect of crocin on electromagnetic field-induced testicular damage and heat shock protein A2 expression in male BALB/c mice. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2020;23(1):102–7.
40. Yaseen NJ. Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation of mobile phones on sperms shape and number in male albino mice. Zanco J Pure Appl Sci. 2022;34(4):108–15.
41. Pardhiya S, Gaharwar US, Gautam R, Priyadarshini E, Nirala JP, Rajamani P. Cumulative effects of manganese nanoparticle and radiofrequency radiation in male Wistar rats. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2022;45(3):1395–407.
42. Gautam R, Singh KV, Nirala J, Murmu NN, Meena R, Rajamani P. Oxidative stress‐mediated alterations on sperm parameters in male Wistar rats exposed to 3G mobile phone radiation. Andrologia. 2019;51(3):e13201.
43. Gautam R, Pardhiya S, Nirala JP, Sarsaiya P, Rajamani P. Effects of 4G mobile phone radiation exposure on reproductive, hepatic, renal, and hematological parameters of male Wistar rat. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024;31(3):4384–99.
44. Akbari HA, Gaeini AA. Moderate exercise training as an effective strategy to reduce the harmful effects of cell phone radiation on Wistar rat’s semen quality. Int J Radiat Res. 2021;19(2):317–23.
45. Al-Quzwini OF, Al-Taee HA, Al-Shaikh SF. Male fertility and its association with occupational and mobile phone towers hazards: an analytic study. Middle East Fertil Soc J. 2016;21(4):236–40.
46. Habeeb HMH, Al-Awadi IHY, Al-Awadi DHY. Effect of electromagnetic waves emitted from cellular phone on some diluted semen characteristics of Awassi ram in vitro. Plant Arch. 2020;20(2):1830–3.
47. Pokhrel G, Yihao S, Wangcheng W, Khatiwada SU, Zhongyang S, Jianqiao Y, et al. The impact of sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, work exposure and medical history on semen parameters in young Chinese men: a cross‐sectional study. Andrologia. 2019;51(8):e13324.
48. Lewis RC, Mínguez-Alarcón L, Meeker JD, Williams PL, Mezei G, Ford JB, et al. Self-reported mobile phone use and semen parameters among men from a fertility clinic. Reprod Toxicol. 2017;67:42–7.
49. Dong VNK, Tantisuwat L, Setthawong P, Tharasanit T, Sutayatram S, Kijtawornrat A. The preliminary chronic effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones on heart rate variability, cardiac function, blood profiles, and semen quality in healthy dogs. Vet Sci. 2022;9(5):201.
50. Gohari FA, Saranjam B, Asgari M, Omidi L, Ekrami H, Moussavi-Najarkola SA. An experimental study of the effects of combined exposure to microwave and heat on gene expression and sperm parameters in mice. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2017;10(2):128–34.
51. Azimzadeh M, Jelodar G. Alteration of testicular regulatory and functional molecules following long-time exposure to 900 MHz RFW emitted from BTS. Andrologia. 2019;51(9):e13432.
52. Çetkin M, Kızılkan N, Demirel C, Bozdağ Z, Erkılıç S, Erbağcı H. Quantitative changes in testicular structure and function in rat exposed to mobile phone radiation. Andrologia. 2017;49(10):e12757.
53. El-Kafoury BMA, Hamam GG, Ezzat SF. Effect of exposure to different doses of cell phone electromagnetic waves on the hippocampus and testis of adult albino rats: a histological study. Egypt J Histol. 2019;42(4):956–73.
54. Erdemli C, Omeroglu S, Sirav B, Colbay M, Seyhan N, Ozkan S, Yetkin I. Effects of 2100 MHz radio frequency radiation on ductus epididymis tissue in rats. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2017;118(12):759–64.
55. Farag EA, Yousry MM. Effect of mobile phone electromagnetic waves on rat testis and the possible ameliorating role of Naringenin: a histological study. Egypt J Histol. 2018;41(1):108–21.
56. Azadi Oskouyi E, Rajaei F, Safari Variani A, Sarokhani M, Javadi A. Effects of microwaves (950 MHz mobile phone) on morphometric and apoptotic changes of rabbit epididymis. Andrologia. 2015;47(6):700–5.
57. Radwan M, Jurewicz J, Merecz-Kot D, Sobala W, Radwan P, Bochenek M, Hanke W. Sperm DNA damage—the effect of stress and everyday life factors. Int J Impot Res. 2016;28(4):148–54.
58. Oh JJ, Byun SS, Lee SE, Choe G, Hong SK. Effect of electromagnetic waves from mobile phones on spermatogenesis in the era of 4G‐LTE. Biomed Res Int. 2018;2018:1801798.
59. Jangid P, Rai U, Singh R. Radio frequency electromagnetic radiations interfere with the Leydig cell functions in vitro. PLoS One. 2024;19(5):e0299017.
60. Lin YY, Wu T, Liu JY, Gao P, Li KC, Guo QY, et al. Testosterone secretion in mouse Leydig cells decreasing induced by radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation. In: Proc IEEE IMBioC. IEEE; 2019.
61. Jabeen S, Haq AA, Nigar S, Iqbal S, Sarwat S, Mubeen S. Electromagnetic radiation from cell phones: a contributing factor to male infertility. Med Forum Mon. 2021;32(1):8–11.
62. Okechukwu CE. Does the use of mobile phone affect male fertility? A mini-review. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2020;13(3):174–83.
63. De Iuliis GN, Newey RJ, King BV, Aitken RJ. Mobile phone radiation induces reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage in human spermatozoa in vitro. PLoS One. 2009;4(7):e6446.
Files | ||
Issue | Vol 16 No 2 (2024) | |
Section | Review Article(s) | |
Published | 2025-08-30 | |
Keywords | ||
Microwaves Radiofrequency Cell phone Reproductive Male Fertility Sperm |
Rights and permissions | |
![]() |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |