Abstract

Overview

The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating an effort to consolidate evidence relating to the impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on health, which has been underscored as crucial by experts in this field. This research is geared toward shaping future exposure guidelines through a series of systematic reviews conducted by a network of expert researchers.

Objective

Following established WHO guideline development practices, this protocol aims to investigate the effects of RF-EMF exposure on male fertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes through systematic reviews coded as SR3A and SR3B respectively.

Data Sources and Methodology

• Data will be accumulated from sources including MEDLINE, Embase, and the EMF Portal, along with grey literature and extended searches in relevant databases.
• Quantitative observational studies will be scrutinized for their insights into the effects of RF-EMF, notably on male infertility parameters and parameters influencing pregnancy outcomes.

Evidence Appraisal

Data extraction and risk of bias assessment will be conducted by dual reviewers with additional expert consultation as needed. Evidence certainty for each outcome will be determined using GRADE guidelines.

Conclusion

The publication of these review protocols is aimed at enhancing review processes through delineated methods and increased transparency, aiding in the mitigation of potential review biases.