Cigarette smoking is injurious to your health. It does not matter if the smoke is active or passive.  It is a well established fact that smoking causes damage to heart, lungs and blood vessels.  It also has a negative effect on fertility of both men and women. Up to 13% of infertility is caused by smoking cigarettes.  But sadly nearly 30% of women and 35% of men who are capable of reproducing smoke cigarettes.

Sperm count is reduced in men who smoke.  It has also been noticed that sperm shape and functions are abnormal in men who smoke

As far as women smokers are concerned, research results have shown that smoking has an adverse impact on fertility.  A female smoker takes more time to conceive than a woman who does not smoke.  Studies also shaw that smoking damages woman’s ovaries.  It also accelerates the loss of eggs and reproductive function.  Smoking advances the time of menopause by several years.  There are cases where it is observed that components in the smoke interfered with the ability of cells in the ovary to make estrogen.  The mothers egg will be vulnerable to genetic abnormalities due to this. Scientific studies also associate smoking with increased risk of miscarriage.  Even if the baby is born, chances are more that it will be either a premature birth or the baby will be underweight. Studies also show that there are more chromosomal abnormalities in the eggs exposed to nicotine.  Smokers have lower numbers of follicles when stimulated for In Vitro Fertilization.   Chances of an IVF pregnancy was 2.7 times higher for a non smoker compared to smoker

While men and women are adversely affected smoking, it is clear that women are more vulnerable and should take greater care.  However prospective mothers need to know more about the risks of smoking.  A survey conducted with 388 female employees in a Connecticut hospital shockingly revealed that majority of them, including female health care providers, were unfamiliar with the reproductive risks associated with smoking!