It’s a known fact that smoking is a silent killer causing cancer.Numerous studies have clearly identified a clear link between smoking and male and female infertility.
Considerable degradation of semen quality in smoking males was noticed after conducting experiments compared with their nonsmoking counterparts.The smokers semen sample showed reduced sperm count, motility and viability.This low quality sperm is less likely to fertilize eggs, which in turn inhibits the chance of conceiving.
Human sperm comprises proteins called protamine 1 and protamine 2, in smokers the perfect balance between these two proteins is lost and there is permanent and severe DNA damage leading to prevention of oocyte fertilisation or the development of the embryo and miscarriages.This damaged sperm looses its power to ward off destructive free radicals in semen.Toxic materials have also been detected in smokers semen, nicotine is also known to alter the hormonal balance through stimulation of cortisol, the growth hormone, which in turn will a curb the release of LH,FSH and PRL.Smoking can also lead to erectile dysfunction due to circulatory problems caused by the blocking of arteries.
Smoking---------> alter protiens in semen ------->DNA damage--
----->failure of fertilisation,infertility, miscarriages ,abnormal babies
Smoking------>nicotine ----->steroid release----->alter FSH, LH,PRL----->male infertility
Smoking------>clogged arteries -------->Erectile problems----->male infertlity
It is highly advisable for women to quit smoking before they plan their pregnancy.A pregnant smoker is risking her unborn baby’s life as smoking aggravates the risk of spontaneous abortion, premature birth, very low birth weight ,Sudden Infant death and ectopic pregnancies.I advice my patients to quit smoking at least 3 months prior doing the IVF procedure as smoking unfavorably affects the procedure through premature aging of ovaries.Physiology of the men is such that they keep producing semen throughout their life,but women are born with a fixed number of eggs, hence if these eggs are damaged or depleted no amount of treatment can bring them back .Heavy Cigarette smoking has proven to cause tubal and cervical problems and DNA damages to the ovarian follicles.Even early menopause caused by premature aging of ovaries has been linked to smoking.
Bottom line is if you want to cuddle a hale and healthy baby, then don’t delay and quit smoking today
