Mobile Phones may lead to infertility
To view this video of HSS student work and other dynamic content on this site please upgrade your Flash Player or turn Javascript on.
Movie size: 7,9mb
Requirements: Flash Player 8 or higher
'Mobile Phones may lead to infertility' Transcript
A US study found that mobile phone radiation could be affecting male sperm count. Katrina Yu reports the fertility of the nation could be at risk.
JOURNALIST
Jamie Giffin spends four hours a day talking on his mobile phone. According to a recent us study, he could be on his way to making himself infertile.
JAMIE GIFFIN
What? That can't be... you're kidding right?
JOURNALIST
The study discovered a link between time spent using a mobile and sperm production.
European researchers are also testing to see if wireless internet could be a problem. Professor Michael Chapman is a fertility expert at IVF Australia. He says that the findings are premature.
PROFESSOR MICHAEL CHAPMAN
There have been no substantial scientific studies proving that mobile or wireless radiation affects fertility. But that doesn't mean that men should be taking their fertility for granted.
JOURNALIST
Dr Chapman says lifestyle factors play a bigger role. he warns normal sexual performance doesn't guarantee fertility.
PROFESSOR MICHAEL CHAPMAN
Binge-drinking, smoking...being overweight. These are great ways to impair your fertility. A third of the couples who see me are shocked to hear that it's the man who needs help. The biggest myth is that it's a female problem.
JOURNALIST
A study by the National Fertility Society found Australians are significantly misinformed about the limitations of fertility. Although we don't need to throw out our mobile phones just yet, we're advised to pay more attention to our health.
It's also believed spending a lot of time in heated or constrained areas could affect sperm count. For someone like Jamie: who's a Pharmaceutical Sales Consultant in his car all day - that's a worry.
JAMIE GIFFIN
There should be more information about this.
JOURNALIST
Studies continue around the world. In the meantime experts say both men and women need to plan for children earlier in life.