Smoking causes many reproductive health problems.
Tobacco causes many dangerous diseases for both smokers and passive smokers; it has a significant impact on the reproductive health of both men and women.
Reduces male fertility
One factor contributing to reduced fertility in male smokers is the body's inability to produce a normal number of sperm. The additives in cigarettes...cigaretteAbnormal enlargement of the veins and seminal vesicles in the semen reduces sperm count.
For those who quit smoking within 6 months, sperm density will improve. One study showed that compared to non-smokers, smokers have a 13% lower sperm density.
Smokers have a higher percentage of white blood cells in their semen, even without infection. This means that the sperm of smokers are less likely to reach the ovaries.
Currently, there is some reliable evidence concluding that smokers have a higher percentage of abnormal sperm. This can lead to miscarriage, birth defects, or complications during childbirth.
Several studies have found that the percentage of sperm in smokers that do not move normally is higher. For conception to occur, sperm need to move normally to reach the ovary.
Smokers tend to have a lower semen volume than non-smokers. Reduced ejaculation capacity may be due to nicotine's effect on the nervous system, impairing the nerve pathways involved in ejaculation.
The second possible cause is a decrease in male sex hormones in smokers. This decrease in male sex hormones leads to a reduction in the amount of semen ejaculated each time.
Long-term smoking addiction can lead to erectile dysfunction or affect the ability to achieve an erection. Similar to the mechanism by which atherosclerosis causes blood vessel blockage in the heart, smoking is also one of the core causes of atherosclerosis in the blood vessels of the penis, reducing the ability to achieve an erection.
Impact on female fertility
Women who smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day will have a longer time to conceive. But womensmokeNot only do women face difficulties conceiving, but they also experience several challenges in nurturing the fetus. Heavy smoking further impacts fertility in women. There are many reasons why the fertility rates of smoking women tend to be lower than those of non-smoking women.
Smoking can affect or even destroy oocytes (eggs), thus reducing fertility. Smoking alters the levels of several hormones, including estrogen. Therefore, ovulation may not occur normally in smokers.
Several studies have found disruptions in fallopian tube function in women who smoke. Hormonal changes lead to changes in the normal movement of the egg through the fallopian tube. In some cases, changes in hormone levels can accelerate the rate at which the embryo enters the uterus. Because timing is crucial to create a favorable environment for the embryo to remain in the uterus, premature implantation can lead to failure and increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage.
Smoking in women also increases the risk of birth defects. One study found that women who smoked had a 2.2 to 4 times higher risk of birth defects compared to non-smokers.
Studies have shown that smokers have a 1.5 to 3.2 times higher risk of spontaneous miscarriage compared to non-smokers. Women who smoke may also have impaired ability to maintain a pregnancy.
Smoking tends to lead to early menopause. The basic reason for early menopause is that smoking reduces estrogen levels in a woman's body. Although all older women experience a gradual decline in estrogen after age 40, women who smoke tend to begin menopause 2 to 3 years earlier than non-smokers. Nicotine is believed to be partly involved in this process.
