Aa
How much does smoking decrease my fertility?
Im a 33 year old smoker who's been trying to get pregnant for years without success. I dont have the extra money to see a fertility doctor, because our insurance doesnt cover it, but Im trying to save up so I can pay out of pocket. Ive also been trying to cut back on my smoking, with the longterm goal of eventually quitting. (New Years Resolution)
Im sure I could probably quit smoking once and for all if I learned I was actually pregnant, but that hasnt happened yet; and Im starting to wonder how much smoking can affect my chance of conceiving. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks, Crystal
Im sure I could probably quit smoking once and for all if I learned I was actually pregnant, but that hasnt happened yet; and Im starting to wonder how much smoking can affect my chance of conceiving. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks, Crystal
Best Answer
Well my sister just had her 6th child in Sept. She was always smoking at the time of conception. Then would quit, then start again after the baby was born. She's NEVER had any issue trying to get PG. ALL kids were planned. Only took her 2 months or less each time. Don;t think it would have an effect. I also smoked before I found I was PG.
Smoking DOES decrease fertility......As you age, it only gets worse. I have smoked since I was 18. I conceived my first three children SO easily.....I only smoked about 1/2-1 pack a day at that time and of course, age was on my side. At 35, after NOT using ANY birth control for over 5 years, We conceived again. We had been trying to have the LAST two closer together but it didn't happen as fast this time. I used to say "lets try again" and ONE month was all it took. Well. We decided to try AGAIN recently and I'm now 37. It took us from the time we started trying (when my now 3 year old was 3 MONTHS old, till May of this year, 2012). AGE and what we put into our bodies play a part.
As a female we are BORN with every SINGLE egg we will EVER have. They do NOT reproduce.....If they are damaged or gone? that's it. THAT's menopause. Some hit it early, some late.....but the damage from smoking and other chemicals in foods we eat etc. play a part. I'm trying very hard now to QUIT smoking and have almost beat it for good this time. I'm proud of myself for that.
My advice? QUIT NOW.....you give your baby the best start possible if your NOT battling the "quit" WHILE pregnant. The first trimester is the most CRUCIAL....the baby is FORMING at that point. 2nd and 3rd trimester consists of maturing and practice for baby. That first 14 weeks is MOST important so break the habit NOW and get healthy! Start taking a good vitamin, extra folic acid. Eat a good fiber cereal in the morning. Let THAT be your goal. To be HEALTHY when you conceive so you only have to worry about taking care and maintaining what you worked so hard for.
Good luck!
As a female we are BORN with every SINGLE egg we will EVER have. They do NOT reproduce.....If they are damaged or gone? that's it. THAT's menopause. Some hit it early, some late.....but the damage from smoking and other chemicals in foods we eat etc. play a part. I'm trying very hard now to QUIT smoking and have almost beat it for good this time. I'm proud of myself for that.
My advice? QUIT NOW.....you give your baby the best start possible if your NOT battling the "quit" WHILE pregnant. The first trimester is the most CRUCIAL....the baby is FORMING at that point. 2nd and 3rd trimester consists of maturing and practice for baby. That first 14 weeks is MOST important so break the habit NOW and get healthy! Start taking a good vitamin, extra folic acid. Eat a good fiber cereal in the morning. Let THAT be your goal. To be HEALTHY when you conceive so you only have to worry about taking care and maintaining what you worked so hard for.
Good luck!
So much for that New Years resolution to quit smoking. I didnt even last 4 days without my cigarettes before I broke down after a stressful day at work and snuck outside this afternoon to smoke two cigarettes. Pathetic.
That was all it took for me to completely give in to my smoking addiction, because an hour later all I could think about was having another badly needed cigarette. Next thing you know I was outside again smoking two more cigarettes before I got off work, and the first thing I did when I left the office was light up yet another cigarette.
After luxuriously enjoying four more cigarettes on my drive back home from a long day at work, I've just about decided that I really do love smoking and Im far too committed as a smoker to give it up this year. Maybe next year, Eh.
That was all it took for me to completely give in to my smoking addiction, because an hour later all I could think about was having another badly needed cigarette. Next thing you know I was outside again smoking two more cigarettes before I got off work, and the first thing I did when I left the office was light up yet another cigarette.
After luxuriously enjoying four more cigarettes on my drive back home from a long day at work, I've just about decided that I really do love smoking and Im far too committed as a smoker to give it up this year. Maybe next year, Eh.
Crystal I dont think smoking really has that much effect on fertility, I mean I smoked constantly both before I got pregnant and the whole time I was pregnant with my son, and he turned out just fine. My mother also smoked when she was pregnant with me.
That doesnt mean that you should smoke while you are pregnant, because you probably should at try to quit or at least cut back on how much you smoke after you know you are pregnant; but you probably just dont need to worry too much about how smoking affects your fertility. It might be something else that you should see a Dr. about.
I heard that smoking actually can decrease your fertility, which could like be considered a plus if you were trying to avoid getting pregnant, and is totally one of the reasons I love smoking, although its like way down on the list. Then again, my mom like chain smoked the whole time while she was pregnant with both me any my sister, so maybe it isnt a big deal.
How long did it take you to quit smoking after you became pregnant? Im going to try to stop smoking at the new year, but given how I caved in today and bought three more packs of cigarettes to try and get by the rest of the week, Im not sure how successful I will be. I think I'd be able to do it eventually, but Im worried that it may take me at least a few months to fully stop smoking all together?
Yeah I plan on quitting for New Years myself. I was dumb to ever start again. BUT it happens. Most of the girls I know were smoking prior to getting PG. Sometimes it just takes a while. I smoked and was on BC when I got PG. I HOPE this month works for the BOTH of us!!! I HATE the waiting game though! :(
Thanks, thats good to know that both you and your sister were able to smoke before you were pregnant and didnt have any problems. Im still smoking for now, but Im seriously thinking of trying to quit after New Years, I just have to work up my plan.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Talk to your doctor. There is probably a lot of research out there that addresses the question of how much smoking affects the ability to conceive. There is certainly plenty on how much being a smoker affects an embryo and a fetus, so they would not have overlooked the other aspect.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Women's Health Community
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
Normal vaginal discharge varies in color, smell, texture and amount.
Bumps in the genital area might be STDs, but are usually not serious.
Chlamydia, an STI, often has no symptoms, but must be treated.
From skin changes to weight loss to unusual bleeding, here are 15 cancer warning signs that women tend to ignore.
