Attention men: Are you taking a supplement to support your fertility and hormonal health yet?
Sperm counts in Western countries have been dropping steadily for decades. According to a review of 185 studies, total sperm count declined by 50% to 60% between 1973 and 2011. That’s not just a health trend—it’s a men’s health crisis.
While environmental toxins and highly processed diets have long been linked to fertility issues, new research points to another modern threat: mobile phones. A recent study out of Switzerland has found that frequent cell phone use may significantly reduce sperm concentration and total sperm count.
Cell Phone Radiation and Male Fertility
Researchers from the University of Geneva, in collaboration with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, published a major cross-sectional study in Fertility and Sterility in October 2023. The findings show that men who frequently use their cell phones have lower sperm concentration and total sperm count. The suspected culprit? Electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile devices.
Interestingly, this study found no significant link between cell phone use and sperm motility or morphology. However, this contradicts a 2021 study published in Environmental Research, which found mobile phone radiation also reduced these key factors of sperm quality.
Understanding Sperm Quality Metrics
Semen quality is a combination of several important factors: sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility (movement), and morphology (shape). According to the World Health Organization, fertility sharply declines when sperm concentration drops below 40 million per milliliter. Below 15 million, the chance of conceiving naturally drops dramatically, and for some men, becomes nearly impossible.
That makes the overall trend even more concerning. In the last 50 years, average sperm counts have dropped from 99 million to 47 million per milliliter.
Study Design and Results
The new Swiss study was a follow-up to the country’s first national semen quality research in 2019. This time, researchers gathered data from 2,886 young men (aged 18 to 22) between 2005 and 2018, all undergoing military conscription.
Participants completed detailed questionnaires about their health habits, lifestyle, and cell phone usage—including how often they used their phone and where they stored it when not in use.
After analyzing the data, the researchers found:
- Men who used their phone more than 20 times a day had 21% lower sperm concentration than those who used it less than once a week.
- The low-use group averaged 56.5 million sperm per milliliter.
- The high-use group averaged just 44.5 million sperm per milliliter.
The study did rely on self-reported data, which is a limitation. However, a new study is already underway that will track electromagnetic exposure through an app to provide more precise results.
You can download the full PDF study here.
What Can Men Do to Protect Their Sperm?
Between radiation, environmental toxins, and poor diet, sperm count is under assault from multiple angles. But there are steps men can take to support their reproductive health.
Here are some strategies to reduce your risk:
- Limit phone use or use speaker mode or wired headphones to reduce exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
- Avoid carrying your phone in your front pocket, where it sits close to reproductive organs.
- Reduce exposure to plastics, pesticides, and other endocrine disruptors.
- Improve your diet by cutting back on highly processed foods and sugar.
- Support gut health with high-quality probiotics that help reduce the toxic load from plastics and other chemicals.
Probiotic Support for Hormonal and Reproductive Health
Optimal Health Systems offers several probiotic products formulated to help offset plastic toxicity in the gut and support hormone regulation—both critical for men’s reproductive health.
These formulas help rebalance the gut microbiome, support detoxification, and contribute to hormone homeostasis—all essential components of healthy sperm production.
The Bottom Line: Protecting Your Fertility Starts Now
Sperm count is one of the most important indicators of male health—and it’s declining at an alarming rate. The latest science suggests that mobile phone use may be a contributing factor, on top of the existing threats from diet and environmental exposure.
Taking steps to protect yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. Small changes like reducing phone use, cleaning up your diet, and supporting your gut health can go a long way toward preserving your fertility and vitality.
Sources: Fertility and Sterility, Environmental Research.