Smoking is a lifestyle habit known to deteriorate male and female fertility. It may make conceiving more difficult since it has a negative impact on the female reproductive system, including egg quantity and quality, as well as the menstrual cycle in females and a deterioration of sperm quality and quantity in men. In addition, smoking during pregnancy can potentially harm maternal and foetal health and raise the risk of pregnancy difficulties.
Smoking also raises your baby’s risk of developing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) after birth. SIDS refers to the sudden, unexpected, and unexplained death of an otherwise healthy baby. Quitting smoking can be difficult. But there is a lot of help available. Let’s discuss this topic in detail.
Smoking and Fertility in Women
Smoking can lower female fertility and interfere with hormone production, making it more difficult to conceive. Smoking may have a harmful impact on female reproductive health and fertility. This is because:
- Toxins from smoking may build in the follicular fluid and ovaries.
- Smoking may cause a shorter menstrual cycle, which could affect fertility.
- Smoking may cause follicular depletion and early menopause.
Infertility occurs when a couple cannot conceive after having frequent, unprotected intercourse for a year or more. Women and mothers who smoke are twice as likely to be infertile as nonsmokers. This is true whether you are attempting to conceive for the first time or have previously been pregnant. Smoking can also reduce the success rate of fertility treatments like IVF (In vitro fertilization).
Effects of Smoking on Eggs
Research has shown that smoking has a harmful impact on ovarian reserve. The term ovarian reserve refers to the number of healthy eggs in the ovaries. Fertility declines as the number of healthy eggs decreases. Women who smoke may experience menopause 1-4 years earlier than nonsmokers. Smoking can potentially harm the DNA in eggs as well.
Smoking and Getting Pregnant
People who smoke may take longer to conceive than nonsmokers. The number of cigarettes smoked each day may also influence how long it takes to conceive, with more cigarettes smoked linked to longer conception periods. Even modest amounts of cigarettes (between 5 and 9 cigarettes per day) and passive smoking can make it harder to achieve pregnancy.
Smoking can also negatively impact your IVF outcome. Smokers may need nearly twice as many IVF cycles as nonsmokers to conceive. Furthermore, smokers produce fewer eggs every IVF cycle and have lower reproductive outcomes.
When Should I Quit Smoking?
It is ideal if you can quit smoking at least four months before becoming pregnant, but stopping at any point is beneficial. The good news is that women who quit smoking do not take any longer to become pregnant than persons who have never smoked. Quitting smoking will also increase your chances of becoming pregnant if you are undergoing reproductive treatments, such as IVF.
Can I Cut Back Smoking Instead of Stopping Completely?
Even low-level smoking can make pregnancy more difficult and dangerous. For example, smoking one to five cigarettes per day increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. Smoking fewer cigarettes does not lower the risk of preterm birth or low birth weight.
Cigarettes with less tar or nicotine content are just as dangerous to you and your baby’s health. If you stop smoking before becoming pregnant, your risks will be the same as those of women and birthing people who have never smoked.
Is It Too Late to Stop Smoking if I’m Already Pregnant?
No. It is never too late. Every extra day your baby spends in the womb free of pollutants from cigarette smoke benefits your health throughout pregnancy and afterward.
Quitting smoking during pregnancy lessens the likelihood of your baby becoming unwell in the first month of life. This does not imply that smoking in the first trimester is safe. The earlier you quit smoking, the healthier you and your baby will be.
Effects of Secondhand Smoking
Secondhand smoke may have negative effects on fertility and conception. Secondhand smoke exposure may have the same impact on time to conception as cigarette smoking.
Secondhand smoke can expose humans to toxic substances included in tobacco smoke, which can cause problems during pregnancy and harm the fetus. Regularly inhaling secondhand smoke during pregnancy may raise the risk of low birth weight.
Men’s Smoking Habits and its Impact on Fertility
Smoking also has a negative effect on a man’s fertility, that is, his ability to get a woman pregnant.
Quitting smoking can help reverse some of the effects. Quitting can increase sperm count and quality and reduce the risk of impotence (the inability to obtain and maintain an erection) over time. Male smoking can also lower the odds of success during fertility treatments like IVF.
How To Stop Smoking?
There are a variety of resources available to help you quit smoking. You are twice as likely to succeed at stopping if you receive assistance from a trained consultant. Here are the ways to quit smoking:
- Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT): It is a safe method to use for quitting if you are attempting to conceive. NRT contains merely nicotine and none of the other harmful compounds contained in cigarettes. NRT items include patches, nicotine gum, lozenges, inhalers, and nasal/mouth spray. Before using any nicotine replacement therapy products, see your doctor, a pharmacist, or a specialized stop-smoking expert.
- E-cigarettes: Many smokers use e-cigarettes (sometimes called vapes or e-cigs) to help them quit smoking. There has not been much research on the safety of e-cigarettes during pregnancy. The vapour from an e-cigarette contains some of the potentially dangerous compounds found in cigarette smoke, although in much lower concentrations.
If you are attempting to conceive, you should avoid nicotine products with a licorice flavour. According to research, consuming too much liquorice root can harm a baby’s growth. There are no known dangers associated with tiny doses of licorice flavouring, however manufacturers suggest caution.
If you believe that your e-cigarette is helping you to quit smoking, you ought to continue using it. However, there are methods of quitting smoking that have been demonstrated to be safe, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), as mentioned above.
Conclusion
Some may state that the stress of quitting smoking is worse for the baby than smoking. The research demonstrates that this is not the case. Quitting smoking can boost your mood and alleviate stress, worry, and a state of despair.
If you’re trying to have a baby, giving up smoking is the most beneficial thing you can do. Quitting smoking can boost your chances of becoming pregnant. It reduces the chance of pregnancy problems, including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, early labour, and stillbirth.
It is critical that you prioritise both your emotional and physical wellness before becoming pregnant.