What Are The Smoking Effects on Fertility?

Everyone should surely know by now that couples – both the male and female - should stop smoking if they are trying for a baby as smoking effects on fertility are well documented. Women who smoke have a higher risk of fertility problems than non-smokers. This risk increases for those who smoke regularly and those who have smoked for a long time. The numerous chemicals in cigarettes can cause ovulation problems, genetic abnormalities in your embryos and even damage to the cervix and fallopian tubes. In addition as a woman gets older the number of eggs available to her starts to decline and it has been proved that this rate of decline is faster in women who smoke. This depleting egg reserve is a serious issue possibly leaving women infertile or facing premature menopause. As well as the direct negative smoking effects on fertility, cigarette smoking increases the risk of getting many cancers, including cervical cancer and testicular cancer. Unfortunately, some cancers and cancer treatments can leave women and men infertile. For men, smoking effects on fertility include reducing sperm count, causing hormonal problems, and affecting sperm motility (the ability of sperm to swim towards and penetrate the egg). rnAnd that’s presuming a man is even able to have intercourse. It’s well documented that smoking can cause erectile dysfunction giving men difficulties in getting or maintaining an erection. There is some good news, though. Fertility often improves when couples stop smoking. It’s recommended they should quit at least two months before trying to get pregnant. So once a couple have given up smoking and have managed to conceive a healthy baby it would be a very weak and foolish person who would start up the habit again. It is well documented that smoking can stop babies growing properly in the uterus so that they are likely to be smaller and more vulnerable when they are born. Smoking puts the fetus at risk because it cuts the amount of oxygen that is being supplied to the baby though the placenta. And smokers are 50% more likely to have a miscarriage. Unfortunately this miscarriage risk isn’t reduced if you give up the moment you learn you are pregnant as the nicotine could have already affected the egg which is another good reason to give up smoking BEFORE trying to get pregnant. Again it is important that the baby’s father stays off the cigarettes, partly to support his partner but also because the mum-to-be could inhale a lot of nicotine just by sitting in a smoky atmosphere. rnSo the message from the health experts is clear. Do not wait until you are pregnant before trying to give up smoking. Your baby may have already spent her most vulnerable weeks suffering the effects. Any smoker who wants to give up can get free support from the NHS. More information is available online at www.smokefree.nhs.uk or by calling the Smokefree Helpline on 0800 022 4332.