There are a number of factors related to a woman’s lifestyle which can affect her fertility. Medical research has proven that diet, body weight and smoking can drastically affect the odds of conceiving. In this article you will find information on how smoking impacts fertility both in males and females.

Smoking and Male Fertility

Getting pregnant requires both egg and sperm, and male health and fertility is as important as female health and fertility. A research study has pointed out that smoking can lower a man’s sperm count on an average by 17 percent. Following are some specific aspects of male sperm which smoking impacts:

a) Sperm concentration refers to the number of sperm found in a measured quantity of semen. Sperm concentration in smokers is 23% less than those who do not smoke.

b) Sperm motility refers to the swimming capabilities of the sperm. Unless the sperm swims properly it will not be able to reach and meet the egg for fertilisation. Sperm motility in smokers is known to decrease by almost 13%.

c) Sperm morphology is basically the shape of sperms. Shape is important because odd shaped sperms will find it difficult to swim and reach the egg. Studies have indicated that male smokers have fewer healthy shaped sperm as compared to non-smokers.

Smoking and Female Fertility

In general infertility is higher in women smokers as compared to non smokers. The time taken for smoking women to conceive may be twice as long as normal women. Similarly women seeking the help of assisted reproductive techniques to conceive often require higher doses of medications to get the desired results.

It is not just direct smoking but also passive smoking which can cause fertility issues in women. Passive smoke or second hand smoking can reduce the rate of achieving pregnancy in women who are undergoing fertility interventions.

A number of studies have linked smoking to early menopause in women. This is because smoking results in premature depletion of the ovarian pool of oocytes and premature aging of the ovary by one to four years. It can also cause harm to the ovarian follicle. Ovarian aging is considered to be one of the major factors responsible for unexplained infertility in a number of women.

In addition to increasing the odds of getting pregnant there are a whole lot of health benefits of giving up smoking. Smoking can cause a great deal of harm to an unborn baby in the womb. In both men and women, smoking has been linked to an increased risk of many types of cancers, heart disease and emphysema. Cigarette toxins take their toll not only on the lungs, but on the health of the entire body, including the reproductive system.

Conclusion

Although smoking can cause long term damage to fertility, research has indicated that the fertility rates can improve in smokers after a year of quitting. Hence, it is best if women quit smoking at least a few months before trying to conceive. This will help to improve the chances of conception, lower the risk of miscarriage and not cause any kind of harm to the unborn baby.

Lastly it is important for both the male and female partners to quit smoking if they are serious about having a baby. Both direct and passive smoking can greatly affect the chances of getting pregnant.