As of 2010, male fertility rates are declining in Western societies. Many possible causes have been suggested for this trend, and it is believed that cigarette smoke may contribute to decreased male fertility. Although the link between smoking and fertility is not fully understood or proven, it has been suggested that substances present in cigarette smoke may lessen sperm's ability to move. The overall concentration of sperm may be reduced by smoking, and the percentage of normally shaped sperm may also be reduced.
History
In the United States, approximately one-third of men who are of reproductive age are also smokers. In January 2009, the website Medical News Today reported that male problems with fertility are on the increase. Smoking has been suggested as one possible cause of such fertility problems, although environmental factors are also considered to contribute to the modern rise in male fertility issues. Water pollution, for example, has been linked to recent decreases in male fertility levels.
Function
The average cigarette contains a number of chemicals and substances which may be toxic or harmful to health in general, and sperm health in particular. According to a study reported in the March 1998 issue of the journal "Fertility and Sterility," cigarette smoke typically contains nicotine, carbon monoxide and several substances known to cause either cancer or mutation. Such mutagens and carcinogens present in cigarette smoke include radioactive polonium, methnapthalene, naphthalene, benzo(a)pyrene, dimethylnitrosamine and dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. When these substances are inhaled in cigarette smoke--whether by an active smoker or a passive person breathing another person's smoke--they travel through the lungs into the bloodstream and may then affect any area of the body.
Theories/Speculation
There is disagreement regarding whether smoking affects sperm viability in men. Studies that suggest a link between cigarette smoking and impaired sperm viability state that this may be due to hormonal alterations caused by chemicals in the cigarette smoke. Hormones control sperm production and sex drive, and so hormonal changes could lessen production of sperm and its viability. Men who smoke have been found to have a higher incidence of sperm cells that are abnormally shaped.
Prevention/Solution
For a man who wishes to maximize the viability of his sperm, the obvious preventative measure--and solution--is not to smoke. Habitual smokers may find increased success in quitting with the use of nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine patches or nicotine gum. Primary care providers can give information regarding available help with quitting smoking. For the non-smoker, secondhand smoke should be avoided. Minimize exposure to secondhand smoke by avoiding enclosed spaces where others are smoking.
Warning
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is harmful to almost every organ in your body. Although the effect of smoking on sperm and fertility remains somewhat uncertain, it has been proven conclusively that smoking leads to cancer, lung disease and heart disease. Consult your own doctor regarding any issues or changes regarding either smoking or fertility. None of the information above should be taken as medical advice, nor is it intended as such.
References
- "Fertility and Sterility"; Effects of seminal plasma from cigarette smokers on sperm viability and longevity; P.M. Zavos et al.; March 1998
- Medical News Today: DNA In Sperm Altered By Cigarette Smoke, Genetic Damage Could Pass To Offspring
- Medical News Today: Study Links Water Pollution With Declining Male Fertility
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Smoking & Tobacco Use
