Most people already know that smoking is not a healthy habit, however you may not have thought about the impact that smoking can have on male fertility….
When it comes to fertility, most people do not even think about the health of the male partner. After all, the baby grows inside the mother, not the father. It is important to remember that getting pregnant requires both egg and sperm, and male health and fertility is equally as important as female health and fertility.
As we have heard it many times from the media, we know that smoking has been linked to an increased risk for emphysema, heart disease, many cancers, and a variety of other health problems in both men and women. Cigarettes have toxins that take their toll not only on the lungs, but on the rest of your body as well, including your reproductive system. You may already know that studies have been done that show smoking definitely affects female fertility, but less is documented about the impacts of smoking on male fertility.
Smoking Impacts Semen Quality
Research studies on male smoking have shown a decline in the quality of semen when a man smokes. Possible negative effects of smoking include the following:
- Sperm motility: Sperm motility refers to the swimming capabilities of the sperm. If sperm are not able to swim correctly, they may have trouble reaching the egg to fertilize it. Researchers have found a 13% decrease in sperm motility in men who smoke.
- Sperm concentration: Sperm concentration refers to the number of sperm found in a measured quantity of semen. Studies have shown that, for men who smoke, there is typically a 23% decrease in sperm concentration.
- Sperm morphology: Sperm morphology describes the shape of the sperm. Strangely shaped sperm often do not swim well enough to get to the egg and may not even be able to fertilize an egg. Studies have found that male smokers have fewer regular shaped sperm than non-smokers.
Male smokers may also have abnormal hormone levels, which can also impact fertility. These declines in sperm health and abnormal hormone levels, however, may not be enough to cause infertility in men. For men who may already be on the borderline of infertility, it is definitely possible that smoking is enough to push them over the edge into infertility. Depending on the situation for these men, quitting smoking may improve their fertility enough that they will not need additional fertility treatment or it will improve their chances of successful fertility treatment in the future.
Consider the Fertility of Your Children
Researchers also studied the potential effects of paternal smoking. While the studies did not show a connection between decreased fertility in the child and the father’s smoking habit, it does not mean that a father’s smoking does not impact the health of the child in other ways. Researchers did find an increased risk of birth defects in the children of male smokers, as well as a higher risk of cancer.
Consider the Secondary Effect on Female Fertility
Another issue to consider is the effect male smoking has on the female partner. Studies have shown a potential decline in female fertility when women are exposed to secondhand smoking. This means that if you are going to smoke, you should do so away from your partner; you wouldn’t want to negatively affect her fertility.
Smoking Impacts IVF-ICSI Success
Additional research has been done to look at the effect of male smoking on the success rate of IVF with ICSI treatment. ICSI is the process of taking a single sperm and guiding it directly into the egg, anticipating that it will lead to fertilization. It is typically used in cases of moderate to severe male infertility, or when previous IVF treatments have failed for unknown reasons. The research found that male smoking does have a major impact on the success rates of IVF-ICSI treatment.
If you’re going through fertility treatment, it is well worth kicking the smoking habit first to improve your chances of success. The good news is that by tackling the issue of smoking right now, you can improve your chances of conception.
If you and your partner are having trouble getting pregnant, it is time to take control of your fertility and make an appointment with one of our compassionate and highly trained reproductive specialists. The Center of Reproductive Medicine (CORM) serves the greater southeast Texas area with state-of-the-art fertility clinics in Webster and Beaumont with specialists who will work diligently to give life to your dreams. The professional staff at CORM will listen closely and help you choose the most appropriate fertility program for your individual reproductive medical needs.