Parenthood is one of the greatest blessings of life, but some couples may face the challenges of not experiencing this bliss. Infertility becomes a heartbreaking challenge.
Many health factors can cause infertility. Some can be treated, but others are beyond control.
And nowadays, the number of couples visiting an infertility clinic is on the rise.
Did You Know?
Studies show that 35% of couples struggle with infertility because of male factors.
Smoking is considered one of the main causes of male infertility.
A survey by the World Health Organization found that 46% of men aged 20 to 39 are smokers.
And sadly, about 22% of people don’t know that smoking affects fertility.
It takes about three months for sperm to fully develop in a man’s body.
Many factors affect sperm health, like diet, exercise, alcohol use, and smoking. Smoking not only impacts sperm quality but also reduces your chances of conceiving and can even affect the health of your future child.
Read more to understand smoking impacts on male reproductive system.
How Does Smoking Affect Fertility in Men?
Cigarettes have many harmful toxins. These toxins can hurt men’s health. Men who smoke are exposed to metals like cadmium and lead.
These metals lower fertility. Studies show that lead and cadmium harm sperm health. They can lower sperm count, change the shape of sperm, and even affect how well sperm can move. This makes it harder for the sperm to reach and fertilize an egg.
But smoking is not the only reason for infertility. Age, low sperm count, and sperm problems can also cause infertility.
So smoking is not the only cause but it makes infertility worse.
Men must know that quitting smoking can help improve sperm health and fertility. If you want to conceive, quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health.
The Hazardous Effects of Smoking on Male Fertility
Here are some common problems that can happen if you don’t stop smoking:
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Sperm Quality:
- Decreased sperm count: Smoking can lower sperm count. Nicotine and harmful chemicals in cigarettes damage the testes. This stops the normal production of sperm. Lower sperm count reduces the chances of conception.
- Impaired sperm motility: Smoking also harms sperm movement. The sperm needs to swim well to reach the egg but the chemicals in cigarettes damage sperm motility. This makes it harder for sperm to reach and fertilize the egg. Poor sperm motility lowers the chances of pregnancy.
- Abnormal sperm shape: Smoking can change the shape of sperm. Healthy sperm should have a normal size and shape to swim properly.
But smoking can make sperm abnormally shaped. Abnormal sperm cannot swim well enough to reach the egg.
Even if they do reach the egg, they may not be able to fertilize it. This can reduce the chances of successful fertilization and increase the risk of pregnancy problems.
- These factors affect fertility because they influence the ability of sperm to fertilize the egg. When sperm count drops, motility decreases, or sperm shape becomes abnormal, it becomes much harder for a couple to conceive.
It’s important to understand that smoking can have a stronger effect on fertility the more a person smokes. Studies show that the more cigarettes someone smokes, the worse the impact on their sperm quality.
This shows why it is so important to quit or reduce smoking, especially for those who are struggling to get pregnant. Quitting smoking can improve sperm health and increase the chances of having a baby.
The table below can help you understand how smoking affects male infertility in a dose-dependent manner:
| Smoking Status | Sperm Concentration (million/mL) | Motility (%) |
Normal
Morphology (%) |
| Non-smoker | 39-70 | 40-50 | 14 |
| Light smoker (1-10 cigarettes/day) | 33-50 | 30-40 | 12 |
| Moderate smoker (11-20 cigarettes/day) | 25-40 | 20-30 | 10 |
| Chain smoker (>20 cigarettes/day) | <25 | <20 | 8 |
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Increased Sperm DNA Damage:
Men who smoke have sperm with more DNA damage.
- DNA Fragmentation: Cigarette smoke contains toxic chemicals, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). These chemicals cause oxidative stress, which damages sperm DNA.
Higher sperm DNA fragmentation can lead to reduced fertility, higher chances of miscarriage, and poor embryo development. This makes fertilization, embryo growth, and implantation harder.
- Genetic Mutations: Smoking can cause more genetic mutations in sperm DNA. This increases the risk of genetic disorders and birth defects in children. The harmful chemicals in smoke raise oxidative stress in the body.
This stress creates free radicals that damage cells. This damage can also affect the hormones that control sperm production, leading to sperm DNA fragmentation.
Healthy DNA is key for fertilization, embryo development, and IVF success.
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Sperm Concentration:
Sperm concentration refers to how many sperm are in semen.
Studies show that men who smoke have 23% lower sperm concentration compared to those who don’t smoke.
Smoking also damages blood vessels in the reproductive system. This can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in male smokers.
ED makes it harder to achieve or maintain an erection. This can reduce the chances of conception.
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Hormonal Imbalance:
- Disrupted Hormone Levels: Smoking can disrupt hormone levels needed for normal reproduction.
Nicotine can interfere with hormones like testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). This can affect sperm production and development.
- Erectile Dysfunction: Chronic smoking is a common cause of erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is when a man cannot get or keep an erection. It can reduce sexual activity and harm fertility.
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Impact Of Smoking on Semen Quality and Seminal Fluid Composition:
- Altered Semen Parameters: Smoking can change the composition of seminal fluid. It can affect the semen’s volume, pH, and thickness. These changes can harm sperm function and survival, reducing fertility.
- Increased Seminal Oxidative Stress: Cigarette smoke has high levels of free radicals and other substances that increase oxidative stress. This stress can overwhelm the body’s natural defense system. It can damage sperm cells, reduce sperm function, and hurt fertility.
Smoking and IVF-ICSI Success
Studies show smoking affects the success rate of IVF and ICSI treatments.
For couples who smoke, the success rate is 22%. For those who do not smoke, the success rate is 38%.
If you are planning fertility treatment, quitting smoking can greatly improve your chances.
How Long Does It Take to Improve Sperm Quality After Quitting Smoking?
It usually takes around three months for sperm cells to fully mature.
If you plan to have a baby, it is better to quit smoking at least three months before trying.
This will give your body enough time to improve sperm quality and fertility.
Take Initiative to Preserve Your Fertility!
Now that you are aware of how smoking impacts male fertility, affecting sperm count, motility, morphology, and DNA integrity, it’s important to take action.
For couples facing fertility challenges, understanding these effects of smoking on male fertility and making proactive changes, like quitting smoking and considering antioxidants, can improve the chances of conceiving.
Also, getting timely semen analyses and DNA fragmentation tests can offer valuable insights into male fertility and help you guide treatment decisions.
If you need help with male infertility, visit Motherhood Hospital, the best infertility center in Ahmedabad.
Motherhood Hospital is a renowned fertility clinic in Ahmedabad, specializing in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) techniques.
