A recent scientific review examined the relationship between mobile phone use during pregnancy and fetal health, noting that some studies have linked prolonged or intensive phone use to a number of pregnancy complications.
While other studies have not found a statistically significant relationship between phone use and serious pregnancy complications.
Researchers reviewed studies published up to February 2026, searching for evidence related to mobile phone use during pregnancy and its potential health effects. The findings indicated a link between heavy use and several problems, most notably a shorter pregnancy and certain cardiovascular abnormalities.
The review results were published in the journal "Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology," and were conducted by researchers from Columbia University, Cornell University, and Johns Hopkins University.
Researchers point out that interpreting these findings is not simple, as mobile phone use may also be linked to a sedentary lifestyle. One study, involving 423 adults, including 256 women, showed that heavy phone use was associated with increased sedentary behavior, a factor that may, in turn, be linked to some negative pregnancy outcomes, such as shortened pregnancy, hypertension, and fetal growth restriction.
Norman Klayman, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, said that cell phone use may be an indicator of a sedentary lifestyle, and not necessarily an accurate reflection of radiation exposure.
Mobile phones emit non-ionizing microwave radiation known as radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Unlike X-rays and gamma rays, this type of radiation does not have enough energy to break chemical bonds or directly damage DNA and cause mutations.
However, some previous research suggests that chronic exposure to low levels of these fields may affect some biological processes, and may also lead to a localized increase in tissue temperature as a result of thermal effects.
Researchers emphasize that estimating actual radiation exposure is challenging, as exposure is not limited to mobile phones but may also include Wi-Fi networks and cell towers. Furthermore, exposure levels vary depending on how and for how long the phone is used, and may change with advancements in communication technologies, including 5G networks.
The researchers stressed the need for more accurate studies to determine the relationship between mobile phone use and the health of the mother and fetus, emphasizing that the current results do not allow for definitive conclusions to be drawn.
Co-author Ka Kahe, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, said the current findings suggest potential negative effects, but inconsistencies in results and methodological limitations in the available studies make it too early to draw definitive conclusions.
Given the inconclusive evidence, researchers suggest some precautionary measures to reduce exposure, such as using a speakerphone or wired headphones, keeping the phone away from the stomach, and activating airplane mode when not needing to connect to the network.
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