Phone-sperm link
Overuse of mobile phones may be linked to reduced sperm count and quality, according to preliminary US and Indian studies of more than 360 men. Researchers found that those who used mobiles for more than four hours a day (more than 30 per cent) had a 25 per cent lower count than those who never used mobiles, 50 per cent fewer properly formed sperm, and a 33 per cent reduction in their sperm's swimming ability (crucial for conception). 'Mobiles could be having a devastating effect on fertility,' team leader Ashok Agarwal, of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio said. told the Daily Mail. 'There was a significant decrease in the most important measures of sperm health with cell phone use.' Researchers say the possible link may be due to electromagnetic radiation or the heat generated by handsets.
Male contraceptive tested
Scientists have successfully tested a male contraceptive on rats that appears to have no side effects and wears off after 20 weeks. The drug, developed by the New York-based, non-profit Population Council, works by blocking the development of sperm cells, according to WebMD. Researcher Cheng Chuen-yan says the drug is still a long way from being approved for use by people.
Easy does it
And a South African inventor has developed a condom that takes less than three seconds to put on - without having to remove the wrapper. South Africa has one of the world's highest Aids rates, and some studies suggest that the difficulty of putting on condoms is a reason some people don't use them, AFP reports. Willem van Rensburg of Capetown says his Pronto condom is also more reliable and hygienic because it is applied directly from the wrapper, which snaps in the middle, and the two sides roll the condom over the penis, using tiny, soft plastic hooks.
Sick and tired