OMM Redaksiyası
A new publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) presents growing scientific evidence linking smoking and exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke with reproductive health problems.
According to the WHO, one in every six people of reproductive age experiences infertility at some point in life. Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse.
Based on a systematic review of studies conducted between 2000 and 2026, women who currently smoke face a 40 percent higher risk of infertility than women who do not smoke. Among women who had smoked in the past but later quit, the risk was 25 percent lower than among those who continued using tobacco.
The WHO stressed that infertility is not solely a women’s health issue. A review of 44 studies involving more than 60,000 men found a clear link between smoking and various reproductive health problems.
According to the report, tobacco use has been associated with impaired semen parameters, reduced sperm quality and sexual dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorders, reduced sperm motility and abnormal sperm shape were more frequently observed among men who smoke.
The WHO also examined the impact of smoking on assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). According to the findings of 21 studies, smokers had lower pregnancy and live-birth rates during infertility treatment. This factor may reduce the likelihood of a successful treatment outcome by approximately half compared with non-smokers.
The organization warned that a person does not necessarily have to smoke to face reproductive health risks. Women regularly exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke may have an increased risk of infertility and a lower chance of becoming pregnant during each menstrual cycle.
The WHO said the effects of electronic cigarettes, hookah and smokeless tobacco products on fertility have not been studied as extensively as those of cigarettes. However, it noted that these products may also pose risks to reproductive health and stressed the need for further research.
The organization called on healthcare professionals working with people and couples planning a pregnancy to discuss the reproductive risks of tobacco use. The WHO recommended providing evidence-based support to tobacco users seeking to quit and offering brief advice on the issue in all healthcare facilities.
