Let's step away from basic human biology and have a look at this interesting research conducted in Japan.
There seems to be a growing infertility issue around the world. Could this be because more people are seeking help to combat these health issues, as a result of advances in this field, or could it be that our changing lifestyles have negatively impacted our reproductive health. These questions have been raised over and over again sparking interest in researching lifestyle changes that have affected large groups of the population.
A new research study has focused on looking at the effects of WiFi on sperm. This study has not yet been published and was recently presented at the Asian Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) conference in Hong Kong.
I'll explain a brief overview of the research and provide the link for anyone interested in contacting this group directly for more information. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190429005914/en/Study-Showing-Mounting-Evidence-Harmful-Effects-WiFi
The study looked at the effects of electromagnetic (EM) waves from WiFi devices on human sperm. Kumiko Nataka, the researcher, mentioned that even though these waves have been deemed safe, they could have some negative affects on fertility. This study looked at 51 male patients, all of which completed either IVF or insemination. The samples were divided into 3 groups:
- No exposure to EM waves
- Sperm exposed to EM waves
- Sperm protected by WiFi shield to block EM waves
The exposure was similar to having a phone in a pocket. The sperm motility seemed to be consistent across all groups within the first hour of exposure. However, after 2 hours, the motility rate of the exposure groups was much lower than the control group and the shielded group fell in the middle. After 24 hours of exposure, more sperm had died in the exposure group than the shielded and control group. Therefore, the EM waves from a portable WiFi router, decreased motility and increased sperm death. The longer the exposure, the more negative effects on sperm. The study also showed that the shield can provide some protection against the EM waves. This research could be detrimental to figuring out preventative measures to combat these negative outcomes.
Even though, some striking evidence has come from this research, the sample size is quite limited and more research needs to be conducted on the subject. However, it is a great starting point for looking at factors such as WiFi that were not a big part of people's lives in the past and have recently become a part of every day use to better understand underlying reasons for declining fertility in the population.
