Smoking

Today no one can doubt the harmful effects of smoking any longer. Tobacco smoke contains more than 1,000 chemical substances, such as aniline, cadmium, nicotine, carbon monoxide, dioxins and arsenic.

It is less well known that smoking has a negative effect on fertility in both women and men. Smokers usually have:

• A higher chance of infertility
• Difficulty conceiving
• An increased risk of miscarriage

Passive smoking should not be underestimated either, as it affects fertility just as much. Even 5 cigarettes a day have a harmful effect on the body and on fertility.

How smoking affects treatment success rates

Active and passive smoking reduce the success rates of treatment. Clinical studies have shown that a non-smoker has a 2.7 to 4.8 times higher chance of successful IVF and a good pregnancy outcome than a smoker.

Effects of smoking on women during treatment

• Women who smoke need higher doses of hormones, yet develop fewer follicles
• They have lower oestradiol levels
• They develop fewer embryos suitable for implantation
• The fertilisation rates of the eggs during IVF/ICSI are lower
• Implantation / pregnancy rates are lower
• The chance of miscarriage is higher

Effects of smoking on men

• Lower sperm count (see the causes of infertility in men)
• Reduced sperm motility
• More abnormalities in the shape and function of the sperm

What can you do?

Studies have shown that the effect of smoking on fertility is largely reversible. It has been shown that smoking has to be stopped for 1 to 2 years for the couple to reach normal fertility. For this reason, it is advisable to stop smoking from the moment you want to have a child.