As exposure to wireless and electronic devices and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) increases, so do infertility and miscarriage rates, leading to questions about whether the two are connected.
EMFs and Reproductive Organ Damage
EMFs from wireless and electronic devices can induce oxidative stress within cells sensitive to these environmental signals.Female Organs
In one study, whole-body exposure to EMFs damaged the ovaries of female rats, though the same effects have not been found in humans.Male Organs
Mice exposed to mobile phone radiofrequency tended to develop damage to the testis. In a 2021 study exposing male mice to 4G mobile phone radiation, the mice grew irregular cell layers in their reproductive organs. The study concluded that 4G radiation may affect the animals’ kidney and testis tissue.Hormonal Disruptions
EMFs can directly affect the pineal gland, a master gland regulating hormonal balance. This reduces melatonin, a hormone governing the sleep-wake cycle and involved in sperm production, and reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet, a preventive medicine specialist, noted that the rise in radiofrequency EMFs is recent, so there’s limited research on its effects on human reproductive organs.
“The iPhone was invented in 2007. That’s not long enough for extensive studies,” Dr. Vliet said.
Dr. Vliet recommends antioxidants such as vitamins C, D, and E, and melatonin to prevent EMF damage.
EMFs Damage Sperm
Multiple studies, including of humans, have shown that EMF exposure damages sperm.
“Sperm are uniquely susceptible to oxidation,” Geoffrey De Iuliis, a professor at the University of Newcastle who specializes in reproductive medicine, said.
Sperm cells are designed with a singular purpose: to swim rapidly and fertilize eggs. Hence, their cytosol, a component of cytoplasm, is small. The limited cytosol restricts the presence of antioxidants that could neutralize oxidative stress induced by EMFs.
Oxidation further leads to DNA damage and impairs sperm health and motility. The protective agents in sperm-guarding DNA are also limited.
Sperm also have more oxidation-susceptible polyunsaturated fat than saturated fat in their membranes to promote fluidity.
Observational studies have linked increased mobile phone usage with a higher risk of male infertility.
Researchers are uncertain how these findings translate in real life. There isn’t yet a consensus on whether oxidation is the main driver of EMF damage, despite that the theory has gained recognition, Mr. De Iuliis said.
He also said that even a slight increase in temperature, just a few degrees, can elicit similar effects on sperm cells, whether in animals or in vitro.
Regarding the connection between EMF exposure and male infertility, Mr. De Iuliis suggested that if an effect exists, it’s likely subtle because of the absence of significant shifts in infertility rates since the advent of mobile phones and wireless devices.
However, epidemiologist Devra Davis, an environmental health scientist, founder of the Environmental Health Trust, and Nobel Peace Prize winner, supports the link, emphasizing that even findings from animal studies carry weight.
“Every drug that we use today is tested out in animals. How could you reject studies of animals when it comes to predicting the environment?” she said.
For concerned men, Dr. Ramasamy recommended reducing device usage and maintaining a distance from primary sources of wireless EMF, such as cellphones and radio towers. Furthermore, avoid placement of phones in pant pockets near the testes.
EMF Exposure and Miscarriages
EMF exposure during pregnancy is linked with miscarriages, Kjell Hansson Mild, a radiation consultant from Umea University, told The Epoch Times.Women exposed to higher magnetic field levels had almost triple the risk of miscarriage as did those with lower exposure.
“Due to the current lack of research on this subject, we don’t know the biological threshold beyond which problems may develop, and we also don’t yet understand the possible mechanisms for increased risks,” the lead author, Dr. De-Kun Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at the Kaiser Permanente, said in a press release.
The link between EMF exposure and miscarriage raises the question of health risks due to ultrasound exposure during pregnancy, as ultrasound also produces EMFs.
“Currently, there is no reliable evidence that ultrasound is harmful to a developing fetus,” the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists wrote on its website. “However, it is possible that effects could be identified in the future. For this reason, it is recommended that ultrasound exams be performed only for medical reasons by qualified health care providers.”