A Review of the Effect of the Intermediate Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Female Reproduction

The use of intermediate frequency (IF) fields in occupational equipment and domestic appliances is increasing dramatically. The World Health Organization consistently points out that there is a lack of scientific evidence to assess the reproductive risk in female species within the exposure limits as stated by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. The purpose of this review paper is to review the available literature on the effects of IF EMR on female reproduction in all species and to fully understand these effects. A literature review of experimental, epidemiological, in vivo, and in vitro literature from the 1800s to the present was conducted. Very few studies have been conducted on the effects of IF on female reproduction. The study of women in their workplace, laboratory rats and mice, and chicken embryos has yielded conflicting results on the dangers of IF. Some reports consider IF harmful during pregnancy, while other results show an insignificant (p < 0.05) correlation between the exposed group and the unexposed groups. The experiments conducted so far restrict several parameters such as field strength, frequency, and modulation to draw definitive conclusions. In two experiments, this frequency range is considered safe for non-invasive treatment of cancerous and noncancerous ovarian cells in the initial phase. Evaluation of the IF range on reproduction should be a priority for research. This review shows that there are few reports in this field, and they all contradict each other on whether the IF field is harmful or not. Nonetheless, IF is used in medicine to treat cancer and is currently being researched for non-cancerous cells. More comprehensive IF studies should be conducted to address the limitations in these summary studies.