{"id":103115,"date":"2021-08-13T15:47:19","date_gmt":"2021-08-13T13:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/?p=103115"},"modified":"2024-08-22T11:51:27","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T09:51:27","slug":"tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths\/","title":{"rendered":"Tobacco and Male Infertility: the hard truths"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Chances are you already know that smoking is bad news for your health, but do you know about the toll it may be having on your fertility? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">For men in particular, the connection between <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u00a0tobacco and infertility<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> is hard to ignore. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Tobacco smoking is one of the major factors leading to male infertility, with the habit being directly linked to low sperm counts, poor sperm motility and sub-optimum quality. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">However, it&#8217;s important to remember that for most men, a full sperm production cycle ( <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><em><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">spermatogenesis<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> ) takes around three months. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">What this means is that if you quit smoking today, in as soon as 90 days your sperm could be healthier, significantly increasing your chances of conceiving.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So, whether you&#8217;re thinking of starting a family and have concerns about your fertility or you&#8217;re currently investigating your fertility treatment options, there really never has been a better time to quit. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In this article, we&#8217;ll take a closer look at just how harmful smoking can be to the chances of having a baby and why quitting smoking boosts male fertility levels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths\/#The_rise_of_infertility\" title=\"The rise of infertility\">The rise of infertility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths\/#The_hard_facts\" title=\"The hard facts\">The hard facts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths\/#Does_smoking_affect_sperm_DNA\" title=\"Does smoking affect sperm DNA?\">Does smoking affect sperm DNA?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths\/#Can_I_just_cut_down_on_smoking\" title=\"Can I just cut down on smoking?\">Can I just cut down on smoking?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths\/#Making_a_change\" title=\"Making a change\">Making a change<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths\/#Your_next_steps\" title=\"Your next steps\">Your next steps<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_rise_of_infertility\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The rise of infertility<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It seems we&#8217;re fighting a rising tide of male infertility cases in the modern era. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Research from IVI found that <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/why-low-sperm-count-affect-one-in-five-men-uk\/\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">the number of men seeking fertility treatment rose from 12.4% in 2004 to 21.3% in 2017<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> , meaning around one in every five men in the UK could need help having a child. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">While it&#8217;s evident that male infertility is becoming a bigger issue, the reason why remains unclear. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Fertility experts are unable to pinpoint the cause with certainty, but there are many educated guesses at what could be behind it. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Along with poor diet, obesity and certain medications such an antidepressants, smoking is often cited.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Although infertility has been rising, smoking habits have been on the decline for a while now: in 2019, 14.1% of UK adults (or around 6.9 million people) classed themselves as smokers, compared to 14.7% in the previous year. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Those aged between 25 and 34 years were the most likely to smoke, with 19% in that age group being a smoker. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This statistic becomes significant when you consider people in this age group are also at peak fertility age and are the most likely to be thinking about starting a family.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_hard_facts\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The hard facts<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Needing a helping hand in starting or adding to your family is not uncommon, but if you smoke, there&#8217;s an even higher risk that you&#8217;ll struggle to do so. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If you smoke, it can take twice as long to get pregnant when compared to a non-smoker. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If you&#8217;re in a hetero couple, the passing of time could make your situation even more difficult. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Age is the single largest cause of female infertility, meaning your partner could be left facing potential fertility blocks which could have been avoided, depending on her age.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Male smokers can expect an average 23% decrease in sperm concentration &#8211; a figure that&#8217;s significant enough to warrant concern. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Fortunately, smoking is an issue that&#8217;s easily addressed and it&#8217;s possible to reverse any damage to sperm in the long-term. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">While there are no guarantees, many men should see a significant boost to their fertility just by giving up smoking. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If you find there are still underlying fertility issues, the fact you&#8217;re no longer putting those toxins into your body will help increase your chance of successful fertility treatment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Quantity does matter. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">While smoking can lead to a reduced sperm count, decreased motility and poorly formed sperm, the effect of this is strongest in the heaviest of smokers. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Heavy smokers, those who indulge in 20 or more every day, will see their fertility suffer the most.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_smoking_affect_sperm_DNA\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Does smoking affect sperm DNA?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In short, the answer is yes. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">As well as high levels of known carcinogens, cigarettes also contain heavy metals like cadmium, lead and mercury. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">These heavy metals &#8211; particularly the latter two &#8211; have been linked in scientific research to have a negative impact on sperm and are among the most common causes of sperm damage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Studies have also shown that smoking can lead to an increase in sperm DNA fragmentation. Men who have damaged sperm are more likely to experience problems with their fertility. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This means smokers are more likely to have issues with fertilization, embryo development and an increased risk of miscarriage if their partner does conceive.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Not only does smoking have a negative impact on sperm, it is also a known contributor to erectile dysfunction. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This condition can make getting pregnant significantly more challenging. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The longer and heavier you smoke, the higher your risk of being affected by erectile dysfunction.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It should also be mentioned that second-hand smoke inhalation can lead to problems with female infertility, too: even passive exposure to smoke is known to disrupt the normal function of the ovaries.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_just_cut_down_on_smoking\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Can I just cut down on smoking?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If you have been smoking for a longer period of time, quitting altogether can be extremely challenging. It is normal to want to start slowly. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The positive news is that even reducing the amount you smoke can help to improve sperm quality. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">However, if you&#8217;re at the stage where you are already looking into <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/assisted-reproduction-treatments\/\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">fertility treatments<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> or planning to have treatment soon, then cutting out cigarettes completely could be the best thing to maximize your chances of success. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Men who smoke have a lower chance of successful IVF or ICSI procedure than their non-smoking peers: one small study found that the success rate for IVF-ICSI leapt from 22% to 38% if the male participant wasn&#8217;t a smoker.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In recent years, an easier pathway to quitting smoking tobacco has appeared in the rise of e-cigarettes and vaping, with many smokers choosing to exchange their old habit for a less dangerous alternative. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">New research investigating the effects of vaping on fertility is still ongoing. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">A recent study published by the Journal of Human Reproduction found that <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32558890\/\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">daily e-cigarettes cause the sperm count to drop<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> , according to an analysis involving a cohort of 2008 men of reproductive age. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Meanwhile, researchers at the University College of London found that <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucl.ac.uk\/news\/headlines\/2018\/sep\/vaping-bad-your-health\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">certain ingredients added to vape flavor concentrates (e-liquids) diminish male fertility<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> by negatively impacting sperm motility.<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If you are unable to quit or cut down on cigarettes, then switching to e-cigarettes is a less harmful choice for your fertility. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">However, the health risks that remain with e-cigarettes could mean that kicking the habit altogether is the most effective way to build your family sooner.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Making_a_change\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Making a change<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Quitting smoking tobacco is an enormous challenge for most people &#8211; and even more so if you&#8217;re also suffering with the stress and anxiety of infertility. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Understanding just how beneficial ditching the habit can be for both your health and your fertility can be a source of motivation: not only will your blood pressure drop in just half an hour, but your <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">fertility will start to improve immediately. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If you stop smoking today, by the time the next <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">spermatogenesis cycle is complete, the sperm should be much healthier.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If you are struggling to quit smoking, there is lots of help available, including the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/better-health\/quit-smoking\/\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Better Health: Quit Smoking<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> program offered by the NHS.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">There are a number of free UK helplines available where you can speak to a smoking advisor.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In England, you can call the free Smokefree National Helpline on <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">0300 123 1044<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In Scotland, you can call the free Smokeline on <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">0800 84 84 84<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In Wales, you can call the free Help Me Quit helpline on <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">0800 085 2219<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In Northern Ireland, you can call a provider in the town or city where you live &#8211; you can find telephone numbers on the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Want2Stop<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> website.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_next_steps\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Your next steps<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">What&#8217;s next if you plan to quit smoking in order to undergo fertility treatment? <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We would always advise our patients to give up smoking several months prior to treatment. This ensures the sperm is as healthy as possible. Giving up smoking can improve<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> your fertility, but it can also lead to a healthier lifestyle in which to raise your children. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/ask-for-an-appointment\/\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Contact us today<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> to find out more about your first steps to fertility treatments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Chances are you already know that smoking is bad news for your health, but do you know about the toll it may be having on your fertility? For men in particular, the connection between \u00a0tobacco and infertility is hard to ignore. Tobacco smoking is one of the major factors leading to male infertility, with the&#8230; <a class=\"view-article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths\/\">View Article<\/a>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":103118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,18],"tags":[219,241,379],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Tobacco and Male Infertility: the hard truths - IVI UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tobacco smoking is one of the major factors leading to male infertility, linked to lowered sperm counts and poor sperm quality and motility.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/tobacco-and-male-infertility-the-hard-truths\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tobacco and Male Infertility: the hard truths - 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