Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Oct 31, 2025
Date Accepted: Jan 9, 2026
Determining the Impact of Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Waves on Human Pregnancy and Teratogenicity: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
The widespread use of mobile devices has resulted in a significant increase in global exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic waves (EMW). Growing evidence suggests possible biological effects of EMW on vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant women. These include miscarriage, fetal malformations, and impaired placental function. However, the current literature presents inconsistent findings, and consolidated evidence remains limited
Objective:
This systematic review protocol aims to synthesize and critically evaluate the teratogenic and pregnancy-related effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic wave exposure among pregnant women
Methods:
This protocol adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P 2020) guidelines and has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023475665). A comprehensive literature search will be conducted across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SpringerLink, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar, without restrictions on publication year but limited to English-language studies. Eligible studies will include pregnant women exposed to EMW from mobile phones or related devices. Primary outcomes encompass pregnancy complications (e.g., miscarriage, preterm birth, stillbirth, and low birth weight) and fetal anomalies. Two independent reviewers will perform study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), STROBE, and JBI critical appraisal tools. Data will be synthesized qualitatively, and when appropriate, quantitatively using RevMan 5.4 or STATA software
Results:
As this is a protocol, no results are available at present. Findings will be synthesized and reported according to PRISMA 2020 standards once data extraction and analysis are completed.
Conclusions:
This systematic review will provide consolidated evidence regarding the potential teratogenic and pregnancy-related effects of non-ionizing EMW exposure. The results are expected to guide future research, inform public health policy, and support evidence-based recommendations for safe mobile device usage during pregnancy Clinical Trial: PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42023475665
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Copyright
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