The human body emits a bioelectromagnetic field primarily generated by the electrical activity of the heart, with additional contributions from the brain, muscles, and peripheral nerves. These endogenous fields are not isolated and can be modulated by external electromagnetic and magnetic influences. Current evidence suggests that the main mechanisms underlying such interactions include modulation of ion channels, radical pair dynamics, and ion cyclotron resonance. Several studies report sex-specific differences in responses to magnetic exposure. The main factors implicated in these differences include heart orientation and position, heart mass, tissue conductivity, hormonal modulation, autonomic balance, and cortical field organization. Beyond sex, consistent findings demonstrate that biological effects depend not only on field intensity and frequency but also on polarity (north/south), and direction (vector angle). These parameters are often overlooked or unreported in published works. Some observations even suggest a direct relationship between polarity and sex, with divergent physiological and behavioral outcomes. Recognizing these interactions is crucial to refining models of magnetoreception, resolving inconsistencies, and advancing therapeutic applications of electromagnetic fields. This review integrates evidence from magnetobiology and sex-based physiology to propose that hormonal and structural dimorphism may modulate biological responses to magnetic field. Potential mechanisms involving ion-channel modulation, magnetite orientation, and radical-pair dynamics are outlined and experimental paradigms to test these interactions are proposed. Together, these insights establish a framework for studying sex-dependent magnetic sensitivity in living systems.
Keywords: Magnetobiology; bioelectromagnetics; biological sex differences; electrophysiology; extremely low frequency (ELF) fields; magnetic field polarity; magnetoreception.
Our bodies naturally produce a bioelectromagnetic field. The heart is the strongest source, but other organs and tissues also contribute. These fields can be influenced by external magnetic or electromagnetic forces, such as those produced by magnets or induction coils. The way living systems respond to these fields depends on many factors. Those are not just signal amplitude and frequency, but also polarity (north/south), and direction (vector angle). There is also evidence that responses may vary according to sex. In fact, multiple studies show that magnetic and electromagnetic exposure can affect sleep, stress responses, and hormone levels differently in males and females. Similar effects have been observed in animals, plants, and even cell cultures. It is supposed that differences in heart size and position, body composition, hormone levels, and nervous system activity can all influence the way the body generates and interacts with electromagnetic fields. Some findings even suggest that magnetic polarity may interact with biological sex in a dependent manner, for instance, one polarity may stimulate men while inhibiting women, and vice versa. These insights help explain why studies on magnetic exposure sometimes report inconsistent results. Ignoring sex differences or magnetic field characterizing variables can lead to confusion and slow progress in this field. By considering these factors, researchers may improve our understanding how magnetic fields interact with living organisms. Notably, this knowledge could open the door to new and more effective medical treatments using magnetic and electromagnetic fields.