Scientists believe that smoking may impair fertility by as much as 30%.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, nicotine and other toxic chemicals in cigarettes impede fertility by interfering with the body’s ability to make estrogen, a hormone integral to regular ovulation, and can make women’s eggs more vulnerable to genetic abnormalities.
Fertility.com lists some of the ways smoking can undermine female fertility:
- Restricted blood flow to the genitals, contributing to vaginal dryness and other sexual problems.
- Decreased egg counts due to destruction of eggs in the ovaries before the eggs reach maturity.
- Alterations in the release of hormones.
- Decreased fallopian tube motility and tubal disease.
- Decreased ability of an embryo to implant.
Women who want to be as healthy as possible while trying to conceive should stop smoking immediately. Support Groups, Hypnotherapy, Acupuncture, Nicotine Patches and Chewing Gum are all popular methods for kicking the smoking habit.
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