Archive for the ‘Improve your Fertility’ Category

By: Micheline Chu, MD

For decades, the Surgeon General has advised quitting smoking.  Beyond the well-publicized diseases and health risks caused by smoking and second-hand smoke, smoking contributes to fertility issues.  Cigarette smokers are known to be more likely to have several fertility issues as compared to non-smokers, regardless of which partner smokes.  Both female and male smokers have lower fertility levels, taking longer to conceive, and children of mothers who smoked have an increased risk of fertility issues as adults.

On the female side, ovarian reserve (egg quantity) and egg quality are compromised in women who smoke.  Smoking also reduces the chance of success with IVF, and smokers have increased rates of miscarriage with IVF pregnancies.

And on the male side, compared to non-smokers, smokers tend to have lower sperm counts, reduced amounts of semen, impaired motility of sperm, and a higher percentage of abnormally-shaped sperm.  Smoking can also affect the blood vessels that supply the penis, causing erection problems.

Besides the obvious health benefits of quitting smoking, quitting smoking will increase your ability to conceive and your likelihood of success with IVF.  It is thought to take at least three months for improvement to be maximized in relation to fertility after stopping smoking.

To help you get started…

Center for Tobacco Control (North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System)

(516) 466-1980

Fax: 516-466-1954

TobaccoCenter@nshs.edu

www.northshorelij.com/stopsmoking

New York State Smokers’ Quitline

1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487)

www.nysmokefree.com