Infertility | Fertility | Ovulation | Conception | Pregnancy

Understanding The Adverse Effects Of Tobacco In Reproductive Health

Most people are surprised to learn that more than 4,000 chemicals can be found in tobacco smoke. Also over 50 chemicals like tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, benzene and formaldehyde can cause, or promote cancer and affect fertility ...

Different types of tobacco like Nicotiana tabacum or common tobacco is used in the production of cigarettes.

In cigarettes, about 90% is plant matter and 10% is a blend of chemicals and other additives.

Nicotine is inhaled by burning tobacco leaves in the form of cigarettes and cigars etc. It is also consumed by chewing or snuffing.

Most people are surprised to learn that more than 4,000 chemicals can be found in tobacco smoke. Also over 50 chemicals like tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, benzene and formaldehyde can cause, or promote cancer.

Effect of Tobacco Smoke on Reproduction and Fertility

Smoking may adversely affect the reproductive organs in females and a woman’s ability to conceive.

Smoking may also create complexities during pregnancy, which can hurt both the mother and the baby. Women smokers also possess a higher risk of growing the placenta too close to the opening of the uterus. Premature membrane ruptures and placentas may also separate from the uterus before actual time. All these problems may in turn lead to bleeding, premature delivery and even emergency Caesarean.

It has been found that women who smoke and use oral contraceptives like birth control pills are more likely to develop severe cardiovascular side effects like blood clots and may even suffer heart attacks or strokes.

Women smokers may have problems in conceiving, whereas women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a miscarriage or premature birth compared to non-smoking pregnant women.

Besides this, smoking may affect menstruation in women irrespective of age. Supply of eggs reportedly may decrease even in young women due to smoking. Also women smokers are more likely to face menopause earlier, thus their ability to conceive may terminate at an earlier age.

Causes of Impairment

Research has yet not been completely successful in finding out the mechanism by which smoking affects the reproductive capacity of a woman. However, it may be anything from a temporary general disruption of uterine function, to mutagenic damage of the ovum. According to medical experts, all these factors clearly indicate long-term damage to fetuses from smoking even before conceiving.

Like Lupron, smoking has also been considered as a cause to increase the risk of osteoporosis in women.

Impact of Cigarette Smoking on Fertility Treatments

Women smokers often require about twice the number of IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) attempts to conceive than nonsmokers. It has been reported by studies of IVF that higher doses of gonadotropins are needed by women smokers to stimulate their ovaries. Besides these, women reportedly have lower peak estardiol levels, more canceled implantation rates and also may need to undergo more cycles with failed utilization than nonsmokers do.

However, it may not be possible to overcome the reduction in natural fertility caused by smoking by assisted reproductive technologies. Thus, smoking must be discouraged in women. Both male and female partners in couples, who have a history of infertility or miscarriage, must avoid smoking. Smoking cessation may result in the improved natural fertility and may assist in infertility treatment.

Next article: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Explained

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