Infertility : Can Smoking Cigarettes Cause Male Infertility?

 

Cigarettes are bad for you, there is no doubt about that. However, most women don’t realize that if their partner smokes, it will inhibit their ability to conceive a baby together. 

Studies on male smokers have shown that the chemicals and toxins in cigarettes can affect the male reproductive system in many different ways.

First of all, smoking can decrease sperm concentration. Some studies show that males who smoke have a 23% lower sperm concentration than males who do not smoke. Sperm motility is also decreased by as much as 13% by cigarette smoking. Sperm motility refers to the way that the sperm swim.

Sperm morphology is also disorted in men who smoke. Sperm morphology refers to the shape of the sperm. Oddly shaped sperm are less likely to be able to make their way to the egg properly. Men who smoke had fewer normal shaped sperm when compared to men who did not smoke.

There has also been evidence that smoking can damage hormones that can affect sperm production as well. Smoking can also make it harder for assisted reproductive treatments like IVFS or ICSI to work, so keep that in mind as well.

If your partner smokes, it is important to have a talk with him or her about quitting so that you can take that important step in improving your fertility and your partner’s fertility as well.