Stopping Smoking Improves Semen Parameters in Smoker Infertile Men

Abstract

Purpose: Infertility affects up to 15% of the couples, which in 50% of cases, a male factor is involved. Several studies showed that smoking decrease the semen parameters including sperm count, motility and morphology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of stop smoking on the semen parameters in infertile men. Materials and Methods: Between Sep 2004 to Sep 2011, 716 infertile men were enrolled and history taking and physical examination were performed by experienced urologist with emphasis on the positive history of cigarette smoking. In a case-control study, the patients who were successful in discontinuing cigarette smoking were re-examined after 3 months and the same evaluation including semen analysis were performed. Results: 238 out of 716 men were excluded and 478 enrolled, which of them 179 men were smoker, who encouraged to stop smoking. Giving up cigarette smoking in 134 patients resulted in 14-26% increase in sperm count as well as 8-27% improvement in sperm motility and 5-20% in sperm morphology. Also, without any accompanied therapeutic interventions, resulted in pregnancy in 35 patients (26.1%) and delivery in 24 patients (18%). Conclusion: Although not all the mechanisms through which cigarette smoking could affect fertility are well-known, every smoker must be advice to discontinuesmoking, especially in reproductive age that pregnancy may be planned.