We all know that smoking is extremely detrimental to health, and in the long run, can be fatal too. Yet, millions of people in the world struggle to kick the butt, despite many efforts. When it comes to adverse effects of smoking, while we all know that it affects a man's sperm count, do you know it is equally problematic for woman who is planning to conceive? This World No-Tobacco Day, let's explore the connection between smoking and infertility...

Effect on ovaries

The ovaries produce the eggs (ova) necessary for pregnancy. Smoking damages the ovaries in several ways:

Reduced Ovarian Reserve: Smoking lowers the number of healthy eggs a woman has, and that too prematurely (younger women have more ovarian reserve than older women) Studies show that smokers can lose about 20% of their ovarian reserve compared to non-smokers. This means fewer eggs are available for fertilization, making it harder to conceive in the first place.

Poor Egg Quality: Nicontine can severely harm the quality of eggs, affecting their ability to develop into healthy embryos. This can lead to difficulties in fertilization and increase the risk of miscarriage.

Premature Ovarian Aging: Smoking speeds up the aging process of the ovaries, leading to early menopause, sometimes even in the 30s. This shortens the fertile window of women to a great extent.

Hormonal imbalance
Hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and ovulation, which are essential for fertility. Smoking disrupts hormone levels in several ways:

It decreases important hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which help prepare the body for pregnancy.

It can increase male hormones (androgens) in women, leading to irregular ovulation or no (anovulation).

These hormonal changes cause irregular menstrual cycles and make it difficult to predict fertile days, reducing the chances of conception.

Damage to the Fallopian Tubes and Uterus
The fallopian tubes carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus, where fertilization and implantation happen. Smoking affects these organs too:

Fallopian Tube Damage: Smoking harms the muscles and lining of the fallopian tubes, slowing down or blocking the movement of eggs. This increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, which is dangerous for both mother and baby.

Reduced Uterine Receptivity: Smoking changes the lining of the uterus, making it less welcoming for the embryo to implant. This can delay or prevent implantation, lowering the chances of pregnancy.

Smoking and Menstrual Problems
Women who smoke often experience menstrual irregularities, such as:

Oligomenorrhea: Infrequent or very light periods, which indicate irregular ovulation.

Dysmenorrhea: Painful periods that can be more severe in smokers.

Heavy Bleeding: Some smokers suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding, which can affect overall reproductive health.

Smoking and fertility treatments
Increased Risk of Miscarriage: Smoking during pregnancy raises the chance of miscarriage, especially in the first trimester. Harmful chemicals interfere with the placenta and fetal development.

Lower Success Rates in Fertility Treatments: Women who smoke have lower success rates with treatments like in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Smoking reduces egg quality, implantation rates, and increases the risk of pregnancy loss even in assisted reproduction.

Longer Time to Conceive: Studies show smokers take longer to get pregnant compared to non-smokers. Women who smoke are twice as likely to experience infertility, defined as not conceiving after one year of trying.