Smoking can be such a hard habit to give up. But if you are having trouble getting pregnant, it's time to make a change. Kicking this bad habit may be one of the best things you can do for your health and for your fertility. Here are 5 facts about how smoking hurts your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.
Fact 1: Smoking causes fertility problems.
Women who smoke have a higher risk of fertility problems than nonsmokers. This risk increases for those that smoke frequently and those who smoke for a long period of time.
Chemicals in cigarettes can cause a host of fertility problems, including the following:
- Ovulation problems
- Genetic abnormalities in your embryos
- Damage to the cervix and fallopian tubes
In addition, smoking can make a difference in the number of healthy eggs you have. As women age, the number of eggs available starts to decline. Smokers experience this decline at an accelerated rate, at times leading to diminished ovarian reserve. Diminished ovarian reserve is a serious issue, and can leave you infertile or facing premature menopause.
To make matters worse, cigarette smoking increases your risk for many cancers, including cervical cancer. Unfortunately, some cancers and cancer treatments can leave you infertile.
Fact 2: Even secondhand smoke can affect your fertility.
Live with a smoker? Encourage your loved one to stop. When you breathe in secondhand smoke, nicotine and other toxic substances in cigarettes can upset your natural hormonal balance.
Exposure to cigarette smoke for even just a few days can disrupt the health of your eggs and (if you are pregnant) your unborn children. And keep reading to find out how smoking can affect your boyfriend or husband's ability to get you pregnant.
Fact 3: Smoking increases the chance of miscarriage.
Those warning labels on cigarette packages are no joke. Smokers are more likely to suffer miscarriages than nonsmokers. In addition, preterm labor and ectopic pregnancies occur more often for smokers than nonsmokers.
Despite these warnings, millions of women of childbearing age still continue to smoke. By doing so, they risk their own health and the health of their children and unborn babies.
Fact 4: Male infertility is also linked with cigarette smoke.
Can smoking also cause infertility problems in men? You bet.
For men, cigarette smoking can decrease sperm count, cause hormonal problems, and affect sperm motility (the ability of sperm to swim towards and penetrate the egg). Smoking can also cause erectile dysfunction - trouble getting or maintaining an erection.
Fact 5: When you stop smoking, fertility returns.
There is some good news, though. Fertility often improves when women stop smoking. Studies show that female smokers can increase their chances of conceiving by quitting at least two months before trying to get pregnant.
Read on for more tips about how to quit smoking and protect your fertility and find out how smoking can affect fertility treatments.
Sources: American Society for Reproductive Medicine: Smoking and infertility: http://www.asrm.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/Resources/Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/smoking.pdf American Council on Science and Health: Cigarette Smoking and Sexual Health: http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/newsID.646/healthissue_detail.asp American Society for Reproductive Medicine: “What am I doing that can cause infertility?” American Society for Reproductive Medicine: “Exposure to Cigarette Smoke Damages Eggs, Impairs Embryo Development.”
