How smoking causes infertility in men and women?

Newdiscoveries

What has been recently revealed by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine to the broadest of public are the following fairly concerning data regarding the infertility rates in both the members of the male and the female population. As pointed out, one third of the entire number of cases is ascribed to women, the other third to men and the rest falls into the category of cases for which no explanation can be found.

Infertility standards

According to the scientists and specialists in this field, there exist certain common denominators that point out to either male, female or couple infertility. These, so to say markers, include the following – younger than 34, no prior use of contraceptives, attempts to conceive for a specific period of time without any success (e.g. 12 months). In case the female partner is older than 35, and failed to conceive for 6 months during which time she has not used any kind of contraceptives, or if she is unable to carry out the pregnancy properly, this might also be filed under the category “infertile”.

On one hand and having the members of the male population in mind, grounds for infertility and causes do differ from the ones troubling the members of the female population. Namely, regarded as the main culprit is either low count of sperm, or improper sperm volume. Those factors that are known to affect the proper production of the sperm are usually hormonal in nature and affect the testicles or the pituitary gland, but it can also be cancer treatment by way of chemotherapy, radiation etc. In certain cases, genetic predispositions may affect the overall fertility of the male in question. Also those males who suffer from specific illnesses such as diabetes or thyroid related conditions are also at increased risk of becoming infertile themselves. In addition, hindrances that occur in ejaculation can also be held responsible for infertility.

Cigarettes and infertility

As it turns out, indulging in cigarettes will not only affect the person’s heart and respiratory organs in a manner most undesirable, but also (to an extremely large extent) reproductive functions and related abilities. As it has been discovered, cigarettes (i.e. smoking) and certain substances that contain tobacco do influence negatively the overall sperm production in men, as well as the quality of eggs in women, to such a level that it causes grave concern. In addition, what smoking also tends to affect undesirably is testosterone production, and in this way, it induces impotence directly, whereas in women, it induces alterations in the cervical mucus, disabling the sperm from reaching anegg.