Smartphones have pretty much become a part of your everyday life. For many smartphone users checking their phone is the first thing they do in the morning and the last thing they do at night.
Unfortunately, while it may keep you connected and informed, all that smartphone usage is taking a toll on your reproductive health.
The electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phones negatively affects the sperm count and its quality in men as well as cause some other major health risks like cancer and poor mental health.
According to a study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation of Ohio (the US), the use of cell phones decreases semen quality by reducing sperm count, motility, viability, and normal morphology.
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Keeping the cell phone in front pockets for over 4 hours daily is found to be associated with the percentage of immature sperms.
Moreover, a significant change is believed to damage the DNA impairing the fertility in men.
Research has found that radio waves emitted from cell phones are non-ionizing; however, long hours of exposure to the cell phone in the trouser pocket impacts the health of testicles and the quality of the sperm in men.
Another study, this one based in the Middle East, examined 116 men, ages 21 to 59, who were undergoing evaluation at a fertility unit in Israel.
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After filling out detailed questionnaires about their demographic, health, and sleep variables as well as their daily exposure to digital media devices, the men were sent to a lab to have samples of their semen collected and analyzed within an hour.
It turned out that frequent evening use of digital devices was correlated with reduced sperm motility (the ability to “swim” properly) and reduced sperm concentration.
In particular, smartphone use in the evening, tablet use after bedtime, and television use in the evening were all correlated with a decline in sperm concentration, according to the principal investigator, Amit Green, PhD, the head of research and development at the Sleep and Fatigue Institute at the Assuta Medical Center in Tel Aviv.
The study also found that men who had longer sleep duration tended to have a higher sperm total and better sperm motility, whereas those who reported greater sleepiness during the day had a reduction in total sperm number and the percentage of motile sperm.
Temperature also plays a part in male fertility.
Testicles should be kept cooler than the rest of the body in order to produce the best quality sperm, according to the NHS website.
It notes that wearing tight underwear can increase their temperature by up to 1C.
This new study from Israel suggests that the decline in sperm quality may be associated with evening and nighttime exposure to the short-wavelength light (SWL) that’s emitted by the screens of digital devices.
Previous research has shown that evening exposure to SWL — which is on the blue end of the spectrum — inhibits the secretion of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain that makes people feel sleepy and helps them stay asleep; as a result, exposure to the wrong forms of light in the evening can have a negative impact on sleep quality and quantity, for both men and women.
If you’re looking to strengthen your sperm and increase your sperm count and virility, here are three scientific ways to do it.
1. Take Ashwagandha
It might be hard to pronounce, but Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a medicinal herb that’s been used in India since ancient times.
We believe in the herb so much, that we have created a product with it in it. Find the product here.
Studies suggest that ashwagandha may improve male fertility by boosting testosterone levels.
One study in men with low sperm cell counts showed that taking 675 mg of ashwagandha root extract per day for
