Impacts of Smoking on Fertility in Men

Smoking cigarettes lowers the quality of sperm, resulting in fewer sperm, less semen, and worse sperm motility. The more you smoke, the poorer your sperm quality becomes. Even 'light' smokers—those who smoke fewer than ten cigarettes per day—have lower-quality sperm. Smoking has also been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage due to potential damage to sperm DNA.

Although erectile dysfunction (ED) is not a direct cause of infertility, it can complicate conception. The likelihood of developing ED increases with the amount of cigarettes you smoke. Adequate blood flow to the penis is necessary to achieve an erection strong enough for sexual intercourse. Smoking disrupts blood flow throughout the body, including to the genitalia, by damaging blood vessels.

The good news is that quitting smoking can significantly improve your fertility. Studies show that giving up smoking boosts a man's fertility and increases the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy. If tests show borderline infertility, quitting can help improve sperm quality.

On average, sperm cells take about three months to mature. Therefore, it’s recommended to stop smoking at least three months before trying to conceive. This gives you ample time to improve your fertility and produce higher-quality sperm.

Children whose fathers smoke heavily at the time of conception have a significantly higher risk of childhood leukemia. Additionally, if you continue to smoke around your children and expose them to secondhand smoke, they are more susceptible to asthma, acute chest infections, middle ear disease, behavioral issues, learning disabilities, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Establishing a secure and healthy environment for your child should be your ultimate goal. Give your child the greatest start possible by creating a safe environment even before they are conceived.