Known to be highly addictive, nicotine intensifies the craving for more.
Dr. Richa Mittal, Consultant, Pulmonary Medicine, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital shares some of the adverse effects of smoking on reproduction.
Smoking penetrates every nook and cranny of our body, destroying our organs from top to bottom. We're all familiar with its infamous effects on lung and heart health, but its insidious effects on fertility and reproductive well-being are often unknown.
- Smoking significantly reduces birth rateFor smokers, trying to get pregnant becomes more difficult and prolonged. As tobacco consumption increases, the likelihood of pregnancy decreases, especially if a woman smokes more than 10 cigarettes per day. Furthermore, smoking has a negative impact on the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF), with smokers needing more cycles to achieve a successful outcome compared to non-smokers.
- Smoking accelerates the onset of menopauseSmoking prematurely depletes ovarian reserve and accelerates ovarian aging by approximately 1 to 4 years, resulting in early menopause.
- Smoking poses risks to pregnancyPregnant women who smoke have an increased risk of complications such as spontaneous abortion, premature rupture of membranes, and premature labor. Additionally, smoking during pregnancy increases the chance of miscarriage, causes low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction. The toxic components of cigarette smoke increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, a dangerous condition in which a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus.
- Smoking threatens the health of the fetusTobacco use during pregnancy, including vaping, exposes the fetus to nicotine, which impairs fetal and postnatal development. Children of mothers who smoke are prone to allergies, respiratory infections, asthma and reduced lung function. Additionally, they face risk of stunted growth, poor academic performance, hyperactivity, and obesity, which are all potentially linked to serious mental illness.
- Smoking impairs sperm quality and DNA integrityIn men, smoking reduces sperm count and motility, which reduces fertility. Increased smoking is associated with decreased semen quality.
Using tobacco products while trying to get pregnant or while pregnant can be dangerous for both you and your baby. Quitting smoking, including vaping or hookah use, is important in mitigating this risk. Fortunately, research shows that most smoking-related fertility problems can be reversed within a year of quitting smoking, highlighting the importance of early smoking cessation for the well-being of both parents and children.