{"id":103115,"date":"2021-08-13T15:47:19","date_gmt":"2021-08-13T13:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/?p=103115"},"modified":"2022-10-03T16:43:33","modified_gmt":"2022-10-03T14:43:33","slug":"tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths\/","title":{"rendered":"Tobacco and Male Infertility: the hard truths"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chances are you already know that smoking is bad news for your health, but do you know about the toll it may be having on your fertility? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>For men in particular, the connection between <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0tobacco and infertility<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong> is hard to ignore. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Tobacco smoking is one of the major factors leading to male infertility, with the habit being directly linked to low sperm counts, poor sperm motility and sub-optimum quality. <\/span><\/span><\/span>However, it’s important to remember that for most men, a full sperm production cycle ( <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>spermatogenesis<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em> ) takes around three months. <\/span><\/span><\/span>What this means is that if you quit smoking today, in as soon as 90 days your sperm could be healthier, significantly increasing your chances of conceiving.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So, whether you’re thinking of starting a family and have concerns about your fertility or you’re currently investigating your fertility treatment options, there really never has been a better time to quit. <\/span><\/span><\/span>In this article, we’ll take a closer look at just how harmful smoking can be to the chances of having a baby and why quitting smoking boosts male fertility levels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The rise of infertility<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

It seems we’re fighting a rising tide of male infertility cases in the modern era. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Research from IVI found that <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>the number of men seeking fertility treatment rose from 12.4% in 2004 to 21.3% in 2017<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> , meaning around one in every five men in the UK could need help having a child. <\/span><\/span><\/span>While it’s evident that male infertility is becoming a bigger issue, the reason why remains unclear. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Fertility experts are unable to pinpoint the cause with certainty, but there are many educated guesses at what could be behind it. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Along with poor diet, obesity and certain medications such an antidepressants, smoking is often cited.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Although infertility has been rising, smoking habits have been on the decline for a while now: in 2019, 14.1% of UK adults (or around 6.9 million people) classed themselves as smokers, compared to 14.7% in the previous year. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Those aged between 25 and 34 years were the most likely to smoke, with 19% in that age group being a smoker. <\/span><\/span><\/span>This statistic becomes significant when you consider people in this age group are also at peak fertility age and are the most likely to be thinking about starting a family.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The hard facts<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Needing a helping hand in starting or adding to your family is not uncommon, but if you smoke, there’s an even higher risk that you’ll struggle to do so. <\/span><\/span><\/span>If you smoke, it can take twice as long to get pregnant when compared to a non-smoker. <\/span><\/span><\/span>If you’re in a hetero couple, the passing of time could make your situation even more difficult. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Age is the single largest cause of female infertility, meaning your partner could be left facing potential fertility blocks which could have been avoided, depending on her age.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Male smokers can expect an average 23% decrease in sperm concentration – a figure that’s significant enough to warrant concern. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Fortunately, smoking is an issue that’s easily addressed and it’s possible to reverse any damage to sperm in the long-term. <\/span><\/span><\/span>While there are no guarantees, many men should see a significant boost to their fertility just by giving up smoking. <\/span><\/span><\/span>If you find there are still underlying fertility issues, the fact you’re no longer putting those toxins into your body will help increase your chance of successful fertility treatment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Quantity does matter. <\/span><\/span><\/span>While smoking can lead to a reduced sperm count, decreased motility and poorly formed sperm, the effect of this is strongest in the heaviest of smokers. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Heavy smokers, those who indulge in 20 or more every day, will see their fertility suffer the most.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Does smoking affect sperm DNA?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In short, the answer is yes. <\/span><\/span><\/span>As well as high levels of known carcinogens, cigarettes also contain heavy metals like cadmium, lead and mercury. <\/span><\/span><\/span>These heavy metals – particularly the latter two – have been linked in scientific research to have a negative impact on sperm and are among the most common causes of sperm damage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Studies have also shown that smoking can lead to an increase in sperm DNA fragmentation. Men who have damaged sperm are more likely to experience problems with their fertility. <\/span><\/span><\/span>This means smokers are more likely to have issues with fertilization, embryo development and an increased risk of miscarriage if their partner does conceive.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Not only does smoking have a negative impact on sperm, it is also a known contributor to erectile dysfunction. <\/span><\/span><\/span>This condition can make getting pregnant significantly more challenging. <\/span><\/span><\/span>The longer and heavier you smoke, the higher your risk of being affected by erectile dysfunction.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It should also be mentioned that second-hand smoke inhalation can lead to problems with female infertility, too: even passive exposure to smoke is known to disrupt the normal function of the ovaries.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Can I just cut down on smoking?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In recent years, an easier pathway to quitting smoking tobacco has appeared in the rise of e-cigarettes and vaping, with many smokers choosing to exchange their old habit for a less dangerous alternative. <\/span><\/span><\/span>New research investigating the effects of vaping on fertility is still ongoing. <\/span><\/span><\/span>A recent study published by the Journal of Human Reproduction found that <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>daily e-cigarettes cause the sperm count to drop<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> , according to an analysis involving a cohort of 2008 men of reproductive age. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Meanwhile, researchers at the University College of London found that <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>certain ingredients added to vape flavor concentrates (e-liquids) diminish male fertility<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> by negatively impacting sperm motility.<\/span><\/span><\/span>If you are unable to quit or cut down on cigarettes, then switching to e-cigarettes is a less harmful choice for your fertility. <\/span><\/span><\/span>However, the health risks that remain with e-cigarettes could mean that kicking the habit altogether is the most effective way to build your family sooner.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Making a change<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Quitting smoking tobacco is an enormous challenge for most people – and even more so if you’re also suffering with the stress and anxiety of infertility. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Understanding just how beneficial ditching the habit can be for both your health and your fertility can be a source of motivation: not only will your blood pressure drop in just half an hour, but your <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>fertility will start to improve immediately. <\/span><\/span><\/span>If you stop smoking today, by the time the next <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>spermatogenesis cycle is complete, the sperm should be much healthier.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There are a number of free UK helplines available where you can speak to a smoking advisor.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you are struggling to quit smoking, there is lots of help available, including the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Better Health: Quit Smoking<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> program offered by the NHS.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you have been smoking for a longer period of time, quitting altogether can be extremely challenging. It is normal to want to start slowly. <\/span><\/span><\/span>The positive news is that even reducing the amount you smoke can help to improve sperm quality. <\/span><\/span><\/span>However, if you’re at the stage where you are already looking into <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>fertility treatments<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> or planning to have treatment soon, then cutting out cigarettes completely could be the best thing to maximize your chances of success. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Men who smoke have a lower chance of successful IVF or ICSI procedure than their non-smoking peers: one small study found that the success rate for IVF-ICSI leapt from 22% to 38% if the male participant wasn’t a smoker.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n