Males who regularly carry a cell phone in their pockets may unknowingly harm the quality of their sperm,  lowering their chances of having children, according to a new University of Exeter study led by Dr. Fiona Mathews.

The team of researchers analyzed prior findings from 10 studies on how cellphone exposure affects male fertility. Previous studies indicate the radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation that comes from cellphones can negatively impact male fertility. Results showed that for men without exposure to cellphones, between 50 and 85 percent of their sperm moved normally towards an egg. Men with exposure to cellphones experienced an eight percent decrease, with the mobility of their sperm also impacted.

Study participants were from fertility clinics and research centers. The criteria of sperm quality included assessment of motility, or how the sperm moves properly towards an egg, vitality, or the proportion of living sperm, and concentration.

According to Dr. Mathews, “Given the enormous scale of mobile phone use around the world, the potential role of this environmental exposure needs to be clarified. This study strongly suggests that being exposed to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from carrying mobiles in trouser pockets negatively affects sperm quality. This could be particularly important for men already on the borderline of infertility, and further research is required to determine the full clinical implications for the general population.”

Such research is especially important for the current adult population as cell phone use continues to rise, and according to pewresearch.org, 91 percent of adults own a cellphone.