LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that smoking can increase infertility risks in both women and men, while also reducing the chances of successful fertility treatment.
In a new publication, the agency linked tobacco use to infertility in women, poorer sperm quality in men and problems with sexual function.
It also warned that people who do not smoke may face reproductive risks through exposure to second-hand smoke.
While defining infertility as the inability to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse, WHO reported that about one in six people of reproductive age experience infertility at some point in their lives.
The latest evidence cited by the agency found that women who currently smoke have a 40 percent higher risk of infertility than non-smokers.
However, quitting may make a significant difference. Women who previously smoked but had stopped were found to have a 25 percent lower risk of infertility compared with those who continued smoking.
WHO also stressed that infertility is not only a women’s health issue.
A review of 44 studies involving more than 60,000 men found links between smoking and reproductive problems, including abnormal semen, poor sperm movement and abnormal sperm shape.
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Male smokers were also more likely to experience erectile dysfunction and ejaculation problems, according to the publication.
For people seeking fertility treatment, smoking may create another obstacle.
WHO cited research from 21 studies showing that cigarette smoking was associated with fewer pregnancies and live births after assisted reproductive procedures such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).
The findings suggested that smoking could roughly halve the chances of a successful outcome.
Second-hand smoke may also affect fertility with WHO stating that women exposed to tobacco smoke from others may have a higher risk of infertility and a lower chance of becoming pregnant during each menstrual cycle.
Although research into newer products such as e-cigarettes, waterpipes and smokeless tobacco is still developing, WHO stressed that the strongest evidence currently concerns cigarette smoking.
The health authority warned that other tobacco and nicotine products may also carry fertility risks.
Therefore, healthcare workers are required to discuss the reproductive effects of tobacco with people planning pregnancy and provide evidence-based support to those trying to quit.
WHO also recommends that brief smoking-cessation advice be routinely offered to tobacco users across healthcare settings.
Notably, for couples hoping to have children, quitting tobacco and making certain lifestyle changes is crucial to protecting their reproductive health.
