Tobacco equally affects male and female reproductive health: Expert

Tobacco consumption not only leads to an increased risk of oral or lung cancer, but also impacts the reproductive health of both men and women.

Dr Sulbha Arora, Clinical Director at Nova IVF Fertility, Mumbai, explained that both smoking and vaping were equally bad for fertility, and that both men and women should seek timely expert help.

It is a myth that tobacco does not cause infertility, when it is actually proven to reduce sperm count in men and compromise egg quality in women, making it more difficult to conceive, potentially leading to infertility.

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Smoking damages the DNA in sperm cells, and can also lead to erectile dysfunction.

Women dealing with infertility may have to make lifestyle modifications, take hormone-regulating medications, or turn to procedures such as sperm retrieval or surgery to address underlying reproductive problems. In certain cases, assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intra-uterine insemination (IUI), or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) may be recommended.

Men who face infertility also experience emotional challenges, including anxiety, stress, depression, shame, embarrassment, or guilt.

In women, smoking can also disrupt hormone levels, making it more difficult to conceive. Indeed, during pregnancy, tobacco use can bring about serious complications such as birth defects, low birth weight or miscarriage. Birth defects such as improperly developed lungs or cleft lips/palate are also possible, not to mention an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

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Dr Arora explained that it was vital for women to quit smoking as early as possible to ensure a healthier pregnancy (and baby). 

Another fallout of tobacco use is the accelerated onset of menopause, which further reduces the reproductive window for women.

Vaping is not a safer alternative as it also delivers its own harmful chemicals that can adversely affect a woman’s body. Studies show that women who smoke often take longer to conceive compared to non-smokers. 

Health