Tobacco and male fertility

Active smoking :

Many substances present in the smoke of cigarettes can be find out in the seminal fluid of smoking men at rates proportional to the number of cigarettes per day.

Passive smoking :

The presence of nicotine has also been highlighted in the seminal plasma of non-smokers, suggesting the effectiveness of passive smoking.

In male to smoke can be responsible for:
- an erectile dysfunction reversible upon discontinuation
- an alteration of spermiologic parameters such as:
- leucospermia
- impaired mobility of spermatozoids,
- possible decrease in the number and vitality of spermatozoids
- a significant increase in the prevalence of disomia (chromosomal abnormalities)
- an increased teratospermia with a prevalence of abnormalities of the spermatozoid head generaly associated with an alteration of the nuclear material. Fragmentation of sperm DNA has been demonstrated in smokers. These nuclear alterations are linked to oxidative stress as a result of smoking.

All these tobaco smoking effects result in an increased risk of hypofertility undermining the probability of pregnancy

Source : Anaes-France

Tobacco and Women's Fertility

In women , active smoking is associated with a statistically significant delay of conception, independent of tubal factors infertility.
A dose-response relationships and reversibility after smoking cessation have been exhibited. Such a risk has also been identified in case of passive smoking.
In assisted procreation, maternal smoking has been significantly associated with a decrease in the number of collected oocytes and possibly with the rate of successfull implantation.
The effects are even more marked when the partner is a smoker.

According to significant statistics, the fertility of daughters exposed in utero to smoking mothers is also reduced.

Smoking is also significantly associated with an advanced age of menoposis (2 years on average).

These different effects are more pronounced when the number of cigarettes smoked and the smoking duration are important but they are partly reversible after smoking cessation.
Physiopathological assumptions to explain the decline in female fertility related to smoking are:
- antiestrogen endocrine action of nicotine, in particular, alteration of cervical mucus;
- direct toxic action on the ovary by tobacco products.
- alteration changes in the cilia of the fallopian tubes.

Smoking and Pregnancy
Smoking increases significantly the risk of:
- extrauterin pregnancy (approximately 35% of them can be imputed to smoking)
- spontaneous abortion (among active and passive smokers).
- abruptio ( 25% of HRP are linked to smoking).
- weak placenta insertion ( multiplied by 2 for smoking pregnant women).
- premature rupture of membranes multiplied by 2, especially for high prematurity.
- prematurity