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{In no situation do we ever recommend that fertility diagnosis or treatment be undertaken without the oversight of a qualified medical practitioner. Please use the enclosed information as quick reference and for discussion aids with your practitioner.}

Very simply, and now known to all, inhaling smoke from any substance is bad for a body. In addition to the incredibly damaging cardiovascular and related effects, smoking (tobacco or marijuana) is by far one of the most impacting lifestyle variables when it comes to fertility.

In a nutshell, here's why you should quit if you're trying to conceive:

Women

• Decreases fertility by delaying time to conception: delay of one year or greater found to be 3 to 4 times more likely in smokers
  
  
• Infertility more prevalent in smokers than non-smokers
  
  
• Linked to increase in menstrual dysfunction
  
  
• Linked to earlier onset of menopause (by as much as two years earlier)
  
  
• Linked to both cervical and tubal factor infertility
  
  
• Possibly linked to implantation failure and resulting miscarriage
  
  
• Linked to decreased successful IVF embryo transfer
  
  
• Increased incidence of ectopic (tubal) pregnancies

Men

• Increased risk of chromosomal damage which causes genetic abnormalities in offspring
  
  
• Increased risk of chromosomal damage which can lead to increased miscarriage rate
  
  
• Increased risk of erectile dysfunction (impotence)

How does smoking do all of this?

It's thought that central nervous system effects of nicotine may interfere with GnRH. Hydrocarbons from smoke of any kind induces enzymes which further alter hormone production. These reproductive hormone effects might account for the lower estrogen levels seen in female smokers. It's possible to relate that to decreased number of eggs and impaired fallopian tube function.

Other possibilities include:

• results from cellular changes by smoking; Such alterations result in increased frequency of fallopian tube infections and inflammation, and cervical mucus problems in women, and may lead to chromosomal issues in men's sperm.
  
  
• vascular (having to do with the blood circulation system) effects; Such effects result in decreased ability for penile erection and in the overall health and functioning of all reproductive organs.

Also see:

• Toxin Exposure Effects on Fertility