Mobile phone usage duration and male fertility: A two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis

Abstract

Overview

Mobile phone use has become ubiquitous in modern life, raising public concern over its potential effects on male reproductive health. Several observational studies have reported associations between prolonged phone use and decreased sperm quality or testosterone levels, but these findings remain inconclusive due to residual confounding, reverse causation, and inconsistent exposure measurement.

Methods

• A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted.
• Genetic variants associated with mobile phone usage duration were used to investigate causal effects on male fertility.
• Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was employed as the primary analytical method.

Findings

• Genetic predisposition to longer mobile phone use was not associated with levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), total testosterone, or the risk of abnormal sperm parameters, erectile dysfunction, or testicular dysfunction.
• These null findings were consistent across all MR methods and sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that mobile phone use is unlikely to have a direct causal impact on male reproductive hormones or sexual function. However, given prior observational associations and the biological plausibility that electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from mobile phones could influence reproductive health, future research incorporating precise exposure measurements and mechanistic evaluations is warranted.