How does smoking affect fertility?

Updated: 2019-11-21

Answer Section

Smoking tobacco by either partner reduces the likelihood of pregnancy.

Research suggests that women who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day are less likely to become pregnant during a single menstrual cycle. A woman's odds of becoming pregnant per number of in vitro fertilization cycles also appear to be lower in smokers than nonsmokers.

Possible causes for the link between smoking and being less than normally fertile (subfertility) include changes in the fallopian tubes or cervix and damage to the reproductive cells. Miscarriages are more frequent in women who smoke. Smoking has also been linked to early menopause, a natural biological process that marks the end of fertility.

In men, smoking can increase the risk of a low sperm count.

If you smoke and you're planning to try to become pregnant, you have even more incentive to quit.