Smoking has a major impact on reproductive health of both sexes.

Smoking reduces fertility in men

A factor leading to reduced male fertilitysmokeis the body's inability to produce normal amounts of sperm. Tobacco additives in semen and abnormal enlargement of the veins and seminal vesicles reduce sperm count.

For those who quit smoking within 6 months, sperm density will improve. One study showed that compared to non-smokers, sperm density of smokers decreased by 13%.

Smoking reduces sperm count. Photo: Internet

Smokers have higher levels of white blood cells in their semen even when they do not have an infection. This makes it less likely that a smoker's sperm will reach the ovaries.

There is now some credible evidence that smokers have a higher percentage of abnormal sperm. This can lead to miscarriage, birth defects, or complications during birth.

Some studies have found that a higher percentage of sperm in smokers do not move normally. For conception to occur, sperm need to move normally to reach the ovary.

Smokers tend to have lower sperm counts than non-smokers. Reduced ejaculatory ability may be due to nicotine's effect on the nervous system, impairing the nerve system involved in ejaculatory ability.

The second cause may be due to the reduction in male sex hormones in smokers. The reduction in male sex hormones leads to a reduction in the amount of semen released each time.

Long-term smoking can lead to impotence or affect the ability to have an erection. Just like the mechanism that causes blood vessel blockage in the heart due to atherosclerosis, smoking is also one of the core causes of atherosclerosis in the blood vessels of the penis, reducing the ability to have an erection.

Smoking affects fertility in women

WomensmokeSmoking more than 15 cigarettes a day will increase the time it takes to conceive. But women who smoke not only have difficulty conceiving, but also have some difficulties nurturing the fetus. The more women smoke, the more their fertility is affected. There are many reasons why the fertility rate of women who smoke tends to be lower than that of women who do not smoke.

Smoking can damage or even destroy oocytes (eggs), thereby reducing fertility. Smoking changes the levels of certain hormones, including estrogen. Therefore, ovulation may not occur normally in smokers.

Smoking in women also increases the risk of birth defects. Photo: Internet

Some studies have found disorders in the function of the fallopian tubes in women who smoke. Hormonal changes lead to changes in the normal functioning of the egg through the fallopian tubes. In some cases, changes in hormone levels can increase the speed at which the embryo enters the uterus. Since timing is important to create a good environment to keep the embryo inside the uterus, if the embryo enters the uterus too early, it can lead to failure because it is not firmly attached and can easily lead to spontaneous abortion.

Smoking in women also increases the risk of birth defects. In one study, the risk of birth defects in female smokers was 2.2 to 4 times higher than in non-smokers.

In studies, smokers have been found to have a 1.5 to 3.2 times higher risk of spontaneous abortion than nonsmokers. Women who smoke may have a reduced ability to sustain a pregnancy.

Smoking tends to lead to early menopause. The primary reason for early menopause is that smoking reduces estrogen levels in women. Although all older women experience a gradual decline in estrogen levels after age 40, women who smoke tend to start menopause 2 to 3 years earlier than non-smokers. Nicotine is thought to be partly involved in this process./.