Smoking is injurious to Man's Fertility

It is quiet a well known fact that smoking has deleterious effect on female fertility. But does it have an impact on sperm health and male fertility is what is described below:

SEMEN VOLUME AND SPERM COUNT:

Tobacco alters the levels of male sex hormone testosterone which is responsible for production of semen and sperm in the male reproductive tract. This in turn has been shown to cause lowered semen volume and sperm count in the ejaculate.

SEMEN AND SPERM QUALITY:

There are certain proteins called as protamines in the sperm cells of man which are necessary for fertilisation after intercourse and  assisted reproductive techniques. Smoking has found to lower these protamines in the sperm. Lack of these proteins also increases the chance of miscarriages.
Smoking also tends to make the ejaculate highly toxic which is not conducive for the health of the sperm and successful fertilization.

FREE RADICAL DNA DAMAGE:

Smoking generates free radicals in the body and also creates an imbalance between free radical generation and antioxidant activity. The free radicals cause oxidative damage to the sperm DNA. The DNA damage further results in growth retardation and increased risk of cancers in the baby.

SPERM MOTILITY AND SPERM MORPHOLOGY:

Sperm morphology refers to the shape of the sperm and it plays an important role in successful fertilization of an ovum by the sperm.
A good percentage of motile sperms in the semen is also a pre-requisite for successful fertilization.
Both sperm morphology and motility are affected by smoking.

IMPACT OF SMOKING ON MALE FERTILITY:

Reduced semen volume and semen health does not necessarily mean infertility. But men who are on the borderline of infertility  may be pushed over the edge to infertility by smoking.
If a man’s semen analysis results come back as borderline infertility ,quitting smoking may improve his fertility enough to not require additional fertility treatment. At least it may improve his chances of fertility treatment success.

How long after quitting smoking does the sperm health improve?

Sperm takes about 90 days or roughly 3 months to mature. So it takes at least three months before there is an improvement in sperm health after completely quitting smoking.

To treat problems with men's sexual health issues and semen quality, please reach our specialists at the following address:

Metromale Clinic - T Nagar (Men Fertility, Sexual Health and IVF Center)
No.1, Crescent Park Street, T. Nagar, Parthasarathi Puram, T Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017
090928 49786



Metromale Clinic - OMR (Men Fertility, Sexual Health and IVF Center)
5/395, Old Mahabalipuram Rd, Nedunchezian Salai, Indira Nagar, Thoraipakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600057
097102 04044