The cell phone is the most quickly adopted consumer technology in the history of the world, with over 90% of the US adult population using one, according to the Pew Research Center. There are roughly 6 billion cell phone subscribers in the world.
With rising cell phone use, there have been increasing reports and studies done that cell phones are hurting our health, particularly men’s sexual health. But how valid are these claims?
I’ve been fairly unconvinced over the last few years that cell phone usage is hurting men’s sexual health. Some studies have shown that cell phone radiation seemed to cause damage to rats’ testosterone levels, some have shown connections between cell phone use and lowered sperm levels in men, but the studies I’ve read have been limited and I haven’t seen a clear connection that cell phones are causing damage to men.
However, one study has given me pause. In this study, the researchers divided men into two groups, those who were experiencing ED and those who weren’t. There were no significant differences in the two groups in terms of age, weight, height, and total testosterone.
They found that the men who carried their switched on cell phones longer had significantly more problems with ED. Note that it wasn’t the amount of time they used their phones — both groups spent about the same amount of time talking on the phone — just the amount of time they carried it when it was on. The guys with ED carried their switched on phones roughly 4 hours per day versus slightly less than 2 hours per day for the guys who had no performance problems.
The major problem with the study is that it is so small; only 10 guys in each group. The study also doesn’t show causation, only correlation. The study isn’t able to explain why carrying a switched on cell phone might cause ED.
So, how important is the study? I don’t know.
What I do know is that I am talking to younger and younger guys who are having ED problems. Guys who shouldn’t be struggling with it. There are obviously a lot of factors at play; general health, decreasing T levels, porn use, etc. I am looking forward to seeing larger studies done that will either confirm or refute these results.
In the meantime, what we are telling our 4 boys is that they need to keep their cell phones away from their testes. After all, if the future of our world includes a dearth of guys capable of performing with a woman, thus threatening the future of civilization, think of the advantage they will have. They will be quite in demand. 😉
