About Fertility
Is Vaping a Healthier Alternative to Smoking?
The health risks of tobacco have been known for decades—it’s not good for you. But what about the option of e-cigarettes? Is vaping a healthier alternative to smoking? The answer is no.
The Impact of Smoking on Fertility
Understanding the impact of smoking for both women and men is important when considering starting a family. Nicotine is associated with the following:
- Decreased ovarian reserve
- Infertility
- Ectopic pregnancies: The risk is higher in women who smoke or are around secondhand smoke.
- Miscarriages
- Implantation failure: Implantation is decreased in smokers compared to non-smokers
- Lowers sperm and embryo quality: Nicotine and its metabolic products are associated with decreased sperm parameters and with poor oocyte and embryo quality.
Smoking is also associated with many other complications of pregnancy, including:
- Preterm labor and delivery
- Small for gestational-age babies with attendant brain and lung damage
- Birth defects
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Children growing up in a household where someone smokes have a 17% higher chance of developing infertility compared to children raised in a home where no one smokes.
Can Vaping Impact Your Fertility?
Many women who are attempting to conceive or are pregnant believe that vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes but this is not necessarily true. A recent study from Iowa University found that the percentage of pregnant women who use e-cigarettes compared with those who are not pregnant was actually higher. Many women stop smoking cigarettes and begin vaping with the false belief that this may be less harmful to them and their developing child.
The incidence of vaping in kids in middle and high school is increasing such that a whole generation of young people who are not as yet thinking about reproduction are at risk of being infertile. Inhaling chemicals, in addition to nicotine, will have effects on body organs and will limit the reproductive potential for those who imbibe. E-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to traditional smoking.
Can Quitting Smoking Boost Your Fertility?
Quitting smoking has many benefits, and when it comes to fertility, it can be one of the best ways to naturally increase your chances of pregnancy. Most people will see a general improvement after only a few months and increase their chances of getting pregnant, though the decrease in eggs cannot be reversed.
Contact Us
Quitting smoking can be very difficult, but it is possible, and we are here to help. Is vaping a healthier alternative to smoking? The answer is no. All forms of nicotine can affect your fertility. If you have more questions, please contact us to schedule your initial consultation.
