Cell phone usage and erectile function

Cent European J Urol. 2013; 66(1): 75–77.

Published online Apr 26, 2013. doi:  10.5173/ceju.2013.01.art23

PMCID: PMC3921848

Cell phone usage and erectile function

Badereddin Mohamad Al–Ali,1 Johanna Patzak,1 Katja Fischereder,2 Karl Pummer,1 and Rany Shamloul2

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Abstract

Introduction

The objective of this pilot study was to report our experience concerning the effects of cell phone usage on erectile function (EF) in men.

Material and Methods

We recruited 20 consecutive men complaining of erectile dysfunction (ED) for at least six months (Group A), and another group of 10 healthy men with no complaints of ED (Group B). Anamnesis, basic laboratory investigations, and clinical examinations were performed. All men completed the German version of the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) for evaluation of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), as well as another questionnaire designed by our clinicians that assessed cell phone usage habits.

Results

There was no significant difference between both groups regarding age, weight, height, and total testosterone (Table 1). The SHIM scores of Group A were significantly lower than that of Group B, 11.2 ±5 and 24.2 ±2.3, respectively. Total time spent talking on the cell phone per week was not significantly higher in Group A over B, 17.6 ±11.1 vs. 12.5 ±7 hours. Men with ED were found to carry their ‘switched on’ cell phones for a significantly longer time than those without ED, 4.4 ±3.6 vs. 1.8 ±1 hours per day.

Table 1

Characteristics of Study group subjects (Groups A and B) Mean ± (Standard deviation)

Conclusions

We found a potential correlation with cell phone usage and a negative impact on EF. Further large–scale studies confirming our initial data and exploring the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are recommended.

Keywords: testosterone, erectile dysfunction

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3921848/