how long after smoking cessation does sperm improve

[imp621]

Dr. Kim,

Since sperm production takes 70 days, I'm wondering if my husband's previous smoking (he quit Feb. 2 of this year) could have affected his SA of April 14. From what I know the counts and volume were normal (doc did not give me numbers) but motility was 46 percent and 98 percent of the sperm had abnormal morphology (she said multiple heads); I'm guessing a strict test was done as we went through a fertility clinic. I'm guessing he'll have to be retested to diagnose, but how long would it take after smoking cessation for tobacco's effects on sperm to stop being present? He is also now taking vitamins and such.

SO you know, I am on Clomid and my OBGYN has told me that the first month did cause ovulation (based on progesterone test). I"m in the second month but she didn't have me go for a progesterone test because she said it worked the first month. I didn't get any great lines on my OPK but I did get lines that were decently dark (though not as dark as reference line). I've heard that Clomid can have an impact on that, though.

We are going to a RE this week and I'm just hoping for some answers so that we are not immediately pushed toward IVF. Do you think IUI might be possible? Would we have a decent chance? (I am 31; husband is 32.)

Thank you.

[John H. Kim, M.D.]

Yes, you are right, it take about 70 days for new sperm to develop and so if your husband quit then 70 days later you can retest the semen analysis.  If the semen analysis confirms the initial teratospermia after 70 days then intrauterine inseminations (IUI) would not be as successful. You can still try IUI and then if not successful then you may have to do IVF/ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).
I am happy you are going to see an RE because just taking Clomid like you are doing may not be enough.