In a nutshell, yes, smoking DOES reduce male fertility and diminish sperm quality. Smoking also decreases erectile function while impacting the reproductive health of a person’s female partners.
Let’s examine how smoking affects these factors.
Does smoking reduce sperm quality?
Healthy semen quality and health depend on factors such as total sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm shape.
A 2016 overview of smoking and its effects on reproductive health indicated that smoking and secondhand tobacco exposure can reduce total sperm count, shape, and motility. This increases the likelihood that your sperm won’t be able to get to the egg and fertilize it.
Smoking also contributes to oxidative stress – a condition where your body has a buildup of harmful free radicals. Free radicals may damage the DNA in your sperm such that they don’t normally function, which may reduce the ability to reach and fertilize an egg.
Getting ED medication has never been easier
Connect with a US-licensed healthcare provider for a FREE evaluation!
Free Express
Shipping
Discreet
Shipping
No Waiting
Rooms
Does smoking affect erectile function?
Smoking has also been related to an increased incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED), where a person cannot produce or keep an erection long enough for pleasurable, satisfying sex. Even passive, minimal tobacco exposure can be an ED risk, but heavy smoking causes the most harm.
Oxidative stress also worsens underlying medical conditions like atherosclerosis, heart disease, and diabetes, which may lead to or exacerbate ED.
Does passive/secondhand tobacco smoke affect male reproductive function?
Smoking isn’t only harmful to a smoker’s reproductive health – secondhand smoke also affects their partners. A 2005 study suggests that secondhand smoke diminishes female fertility and reduces egg production.
Is it possible to reverse the harmful effects of smoking on reproductive health?
Diminished fertility resulting from tobacco exposure can be reversed.
For instance, smokers who drop the habit may experience substantially improved erectile function in just 6 months, as a 2015 study indicated. Another 2011 study determined smokers’ sperm count and motility improved within three months of quitting.
Another study showed a promising finding where non-smokers and individuals who quit smoking showed similar semen quality. The 2019 study indicated that your sperm quality may drastically improve after quitting smoking.
Does smoking interfere with assisted reproductive techniques?
Smoking harms the success rates of assisted reproductive techniques like in-vitro fertilization (IVF). According to a 2020 study, sperm from smokers before conception happens are likely to produce poor-quality embryos. This indicates that the success of assisted reproductive techniques may be less effective in smokers.`
How do I quit smoking?
It’s never easy to quit – but if you wish to improve your sperm quality, erectile function, and overall health, you need to drop the habit. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make quitting smoking easier.
Seek professional help
It can be hard to quit smoking on your own. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone; your healthcare provider is trained to guide and support you every step of the way. Getting therapy can contribute massively to the success of quitting.
You can also join a support group with people who are going through the same change – or lean on your friends, family, and loved ones when quitting smoking. Trust us – it’s worth it.
Try a nicotine substitute
The most addictive substance in cigarettes is nicotine. That’s what makes it hard to quit smoking.
However, there are plenty of nicotine substitutes you can use, such as nicotine patches or gum, that don’t include the harmful substances that cigarette smoke contains, thereby helping you reduce your dependence on nicotine. These nicotine substitutes have been determined to be safe and effective in helping smokers drop the habit within 6 months.
Getting ED medication has never been easier
Connect with a US-licensed healthcare provider for a FREE evaluation!
Free Express
Shipping
Discreet
Shipping
No Waiting
Rooms
Consider taking medicine as necessary
Despite high therapy and nicotine replacement success rates, they might not give you the desired effect. In such cases, your doctor may prescribe several medicines related to smoking cessation, such as a drug called varenicline or another called bupropion. Both medicines help reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms, which could cause you to relapse.
Are there any other ways I can improve my fertility?
Other strategies can help improve reproductive health besides smoking cessation, such as:
- A healthy lifestyle. Being physically active may boost sperm count and semen quality.
- Eating a healthy diet. Ditching high-fat, high-sodium foods and consuming a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables has also been linked to improved semen quality.
- Reducing alcohol consumption. The occasional drink every now and then isn’t usually bad for your reproductive health, but drinking excessive alcohol may substantially decrease semen quality and contribute to ED.
- Losing excess weight. There is some evidence that dropping excess pounds may improve semen quality, though it requires further research.
- Keeping your mobile devices out of your groin area. Mobile devices emit radiation that can damage sperm health, so refrain from keeping your smartphone away from your pelvic or groin area.
- Making an effort to stay healthy. Chronic health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes can decrease fertility over time, so addressing them may help you regain optimal reproductive health.
It’s never easy to quit smoking, but trust us – it’s worth it as far as your reproductive health is concerned. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you have any questions about quitting smoking – they will help you determine the best approach to quitting smoking so you can drop the habit once and for all.
