It is known that smoking increases heart, lung and blood vessel diseases. Another harmful effect of smoking is on reproductive functions, but this is often ignored. Smoking negatively affects pregnancy and the pregnancy reaching its full term.
Effects of smoking on women of reproductive age
All scientific studies on this subject support the negative effect of smoking on fertility. The infertility rate is higher in smokers than in non-smokers, and it takes them longer to get pregnant. Moreover, passive smokers are at almost the same risk. Smoking damages a woman's ovaries, and the degree of this damage increases depending on the duration and amount of smoking. It causes a decrease in egg and reproductive functions and brings with it early menopause within a few years. The substances in cigarettes affect the estrogen-producing cells in the ovaries and cause genetic anomalies in the eggs. Smoking also increases the chances of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. In pregnant women who smoke, premature birth and low birth weight babies are more common, and the frequency of sudden infant deaths also increases.
In Vitro Fertilization Treatment and Smoking
Women who smoke require higher doses of hormone therapy, blood estrogen levels are lower, fewer eggs are observed, the chance of cancellation of treatment increases, the risk of the eggs obtained not being fertilized is higher, and the embryo is less likely to adhere after transfer.
Effects of smoking on men
Men who smoke experience a decrease in sperm count and motility and an increase in shape and function anomalies. Passive smokers are also at similar risk; smoking reduces sperm quality.
An important research has shown that; IVF Quitting smoking at least two months before treatment significantly increases the chance of pregnancy. Although long-term smoking leaves an irreversible effect on the ovaries, quitting smoking before treatment can reduce the negative impact on treatment results.
In summary; Smoking affects both men and women, causing infertility or recurrent miscarriages. Quitting smoking not only increases the chance of getting pregnant naturally, but also increases the success rate of in vitro fertilization treatment.