This narrative review discusses sex-dependent responses to magnetic field polarity and direction in living systems and proposes a unified framework integrating magnetobiology with sex-based physiology. It describes potential interaction mechanisms (e.g., ion channel modulation, radical pair dynamics, ion cyclotron resonance) and notes that some reported outcomes differ by sex depending on polarity. The author suggests that failing to account for polarity and direction could miss relevant health risks and calls for experimental paradigms that treat sex as a key biological variable.

This controlled laboratory study examined sex-specific behavioral responses of juvenile shore crabs to magnetic fields intended to represent submarine power cable EMFs. Females showed consistent attraction to EMF-exposed zones across 500–3,200 μT exposures, whereas males showed no consistent spatial preference. The authors suggest such sex-specific sensitivity could disrupt female-driven behaviors relevant to migration and reproduction, with potential ecological implications.

This ecological analysis used a public health database of myocardial infarction admissions in São José dos Campos, Brazil (1998–2005) and categorized geomagnetic activity using the planetary Kp index. The abstract reports a higher relative frequency of MI admissions during disturbed geomagnetic conditions compared with quiet periods, with a stronger association in women. Unsupervised k-means clustering reportedly supported the sex-specific pattern.

This six-year time series analysis used over 500,000 blood pressure measurements from two mid-magnetic latitude cities in China to examine associations with geomagnetic activity (Ap index). The study reports that blood pressure fluctuations correlate with geomagnetic activity and share similar periodic patterns, unlike air temperature and PM2.5. The authors conclude that high geomagnetic activity periods may increase risk for individuals with hypertension and note potential clinical and policy relevance.

This animal study examined repeated pulsed-modulated RF exposure (1–4 GHz; total pulse power density 300 μW/cm2) in male and female Wistar rats and assessed behavior using the open field test. The abstract reports stress reactions and long-term memory impairment in some rats, with females described as more sensitive than males. Reported effects were transient, with behavior returning to baseline within 1.5–2 months after exposure stopped. The authors suggest potential concern for constant exposure scenarios, though this is not directly evaluated in humans here.

This rat study examined whether pulse-modulated 900 MHz and 1800 MHz RF exposure affects blood-brain barrier permeability using Evans blue dye. The abstract reports increased permeability in male rats at both frequencies (stronger at 1800 MHz) and in female rats at 900 MHz but not at 1800 MHz. The authors suggest mobile-phone-like RF exposure could increase blood-brain barrier permeability under non-thermal conditions, while noting that further mechanistic studies are needed.

This rat study tested whether acute exposure to 0.9 and 1.8 GHz continuous-wave radiofrequency radiation alters blood-brain barrier permeability. Using Evans-blue/albumin as a tracer, the authors report no BBB leakage in exposed female rats but a significant increase in albumin in exposed male rat brains versus sham. The authors interpret this as suggesting BBB/vascular permeability changes in males at SAR levels stated to be below international limits.