MSNBC contributor Brian Alexander writes about how laptops, smartphones and big-screen TVs are destroying sex.

“It’s tough to look forward to, or enjoy, sex if you are anxious, but here’s something to make cell phone addicts even more anxious. In the January issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility, a group of researchers from the Cleveland Clinic reported that “use of cell phones decrease the semen quality in men.” Men using a fertility clinic were divided into four groups, ranging from no cell phone use to using the things more than four hours per day. The longer the men used the cell phones, the less he-man their semen. Sperm count, motility (how well our boys swim), viability (how alive they are) and normal morphology (how handsome they are) were all compromised.

A year ago, a team at the Medical College of Wisconsin exposed rats to six hours of cell phone emissions for 18 weeks and found that the rats’ own emissions went haywire. Specifically, their sperm “exhibited a significantly higher incidence of sperm cell death than control group rats.” Alarmingly, “abnormal clumping of sperm cells was present in rats exposed to cellular phone emissions and was not present in control group rats.”

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In a recent Herald Sun article Madonna confesses to bringing her cell phones to bed:

“…Guy’s definitely tough. I had to marry a challenge, otherwise I would just get bored. Whatever else Guy is, he’s never boring. He can be intolerant.”

Madonna also revealed she is so work-obsessed she takes her BlackBerry – a cell phone with a personal organiser and internet access – to bed with her.

She said: “Guy and I lie right next to each other with our BlackBerrys under our pillows. It’s not unromantic, it’s practical. I’m sure loads of couples have their BlackBerrys in bed with them…”

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KETV Longview, Texas reporter Abbey Eden reports:

In Longview, we found most people have that same fear. Many people are obligated to have a cell phone for work purposes, so they worry they’ll miss an important work call. Others say they’re nervous they won’t be able to contact help in case of an emergency, or family members won’t be able to contact them if they’re needed.

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Additional CBS video on nomophobia:

If the idea of being without your cell phone strikes terror in your heart, you may be suffering from what British researchers call nomophobia. Charlie D’Agata reports.

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From CBS Sunday Morning:

Mo Rocca has discovered nomophobia, the fear of not having cell phone service. As Mo explains, many individuals are now suffering from this newest phobia in this age of technology dependence.

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Its 3 A.M. and your phone isn’t ringing.

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