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Yes, the smoking habit adversely affects conception as it interferes with a couple’s ability to conceive. As smoking is prevalent in both males and females, it can also lead to serious fertility problems. According to medical studies and sources, the infertility rate is higher amongst active smokers when compared to nonsmokers. Generally, it would take a longer time period for women smokers to conceive. It is quite evident that both infertility and smoking are inter-related to each other.
Cigarettes are not the only cause that results in infertility, but they can have an adverse effect on an individual’s conceiving ability. The infertility problem as a result of smoking exists in both men and women.
Smoking interferes inability of a woman to become pregnant and in addition, it can have an ill effect on the reproductive system. Suppose in case she were to conceive then she would have pain at different levels of pregnancy. Smoking can affect women’s ovaries, uterus, and cervix.
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The ovaries in women that are responsible for releasing the eggs every month will be affected as a result of smoking. In addition, smoking can interfere with organs that are responsible for the regulation of hormones and lead to the irregular menstrual cycle. Not only that even smoking can pose serious problems to the reproduction process like:
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Hormonal imbalance and
- Anovulation (menstrual cycles without ovulation process)
Some of the medical studies have suggested that cigarette smoking can have a negative impact on the uterus and thus making conception less likely in heavy smokers. Smoking can even block the path of the embryo and there are several other related problems that occur during the process of pregnancy. Smoking would directly affect eggs and ovaries. As a result of the impact on ovaries and eggs, even the uterus would get affected.
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Cervical cancer is another major problem that is associated with women smokers, though the cancer isn’t caused by smoking. But smokers are likely to develop cervical cancer and it would be difficult for a woman to conceive. In addition, smoking would increase the chances of miscarriage. There is a debate on whether miscarriage and smoking are related to each other. So it is better advised for women to quit smoking if they are thinking about conception. Once when women smokers attain the age of 40 then there is very little chance of conceiving. Even if they were to opt for other alternative conception methods, still they would encounter several problems during the pregnancy period.
Subsequently, smoking can result in pregnancy complications, and women could be at risk of developing placental problems.
The sperm count in males would reduce considerably as a result of smoking. Hence sperm may not be able to fertilize the egg produced by his partner or spouse. Smoking can reduce the mobility of sperm so it may not be able to reach an egg for fertilization. As a result of this situation, the women won’t be able to carry or conceive a baby for a term of nine months. In case if an active smoker fathers a child, then there is a possibility that child would be born with a defect. Additionally, the sperm produced by an active smoker may be subjected to DNA abnormalities and may lead to miscarriage.
