Written by Sindhuja Prabhu
Pregnancy happens only if a healthy viable sperm manages to fertilize an egg. For a couple to get pregnant, both the health of the egg and the sperm are very important. Even a slight dip in the sperm count or health of the sperm can cause fertility issues that may require medical intervention. For those trying to conceive or planning to have a baby, it is vital to understand that smoking and low sperm count go hand in hand and may have unwanted effects on fertility.
Every man produces sperms just like how every woman produces eggs. There are many external factors that influence the production, health, and viability of sperms. While some can be medical, some can be the man’s own making. A man’s habits have a strong influence on his sperm’s health. Smoking for one can cause a low sperm count.
In This Article
A man’s semen contains millions of sperms. Though technically feasible, doctors don’t actually calculate the exact number of sperms produced by a man in an ejaculation. They collect a sample of the semen and analyze it under a microscope. Depending on various pre-determined parameters, the sperm count is determined. The total number of sperm in a semen sample or per ejaculation is the sperm count for that man.
For a normal male with a healthy sperm count, the sperm density can range anywhere from 15 million to 200 million or more, for every millimetre of semen. Yes, a man produces so many millions of sperm every time he ejaculates, and it takes just one sperm to fertilize an egg!
If the sperm count is below 15 million per millimetre of sperm or less than 39 million sperm per ejaculation, the man is said to have a low sperm count.
When you have fertility issues your doctor will ask for a semen analysis. If you and your partner have been trying to get pregnant but are unable to, a fertility specialist will check both your sperm and her eggs.
To check the viability of sperms, the doctor will order a semen analysis. In this test, you will have to provide a semen sample. This can be obtained either by masturbating and ejaculating into a container specifically given for this purpose, at the doctor’s clinic; or by using a special condom that can collect the semen during intercourse.
The technician or the lab guy will check the semen under a microscope, on a grid pattern. They will check to see how many sperms appear within a specific grid. In today’s advanced technology, many labs use a computer for analysis and counting.
A low sperm count could be due to any of the following reasons.
Smoking can affect the semen in the following ways
A semen analysis will show the concentration of sperms in it. Lower the semen concentration, reduced are the chances for a successful fertilisation and conception. Studies show smoking can cause a 23% decrease in this concentration.
Sperms have a specific shape. Smoking can damage the shape of the sperms, which in turn can cause fertility issues.
Smoking can cause the sperm’s DNA to fragment. Male smokers may suffer damage to their sperms, which can lead to issues with fertility, development of the embryo, implantation, and sometimes even increase the rate of miscarriages.
Motility is the capability of the sperms to swim. Smoking can affect this motility, reducing the chances of the sperm reaching the egg.
Yes, smoking can in fact cause erectile dysfunction. An erection happens when the blood vessels in the penis grow in size and fill with blood. Smoking can hamper this process by impacting the blood vessels themselves.
Men as young as 20 years also suffer from erectile dysfunction due to heavy smoking. When a person smokes constantly, plaque builds up in their arteries due to tobacco. The plaque then obstructs the blood flow through the vessels and prevents a man from having a successful erection.
Without an erection, proper sex or pregnancy is not possible.
Don’t worry; low sperm count is a reversible condition in most cases if caught in time. Here are some of the treatment options a person can choose from, to improve the sperm count and increase the chances of pregnancy.
Gonadotrophin hormones are responsible for the production of sperms. If this hormone is low, sperm production will also be low. Your doctor might advise Gonadotrophin medicine to improve the sperm count.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection is an option for those who have been trying to get pregnant for at least 2 years. Here, healthy sperm is taken from a semen sample and injected into the egg for fertilization. They will transfer the fertilized egg into the womb for implantation.
If the sperm count sperm health is very low, making it difficult to conceive, donor sperm is an option. This method is used even when couples want to avoid a genetic disorder.
Smoking can have a heavy negative impact on sperm quality. While some chain smokers may not suffer from low sperm count, some occasional smokers can suffer from fertility issues. It is subjective but overall, a bad influence on a man’s fertility and sperm count.
Following an active lifestyle, avoiding overuse of drugs, smoking, alcohol and certain prescription drugs can improve sperm count. A dietary change to include more nutritious foods can also help.
Most of them do. It also depends on how long and how much they have been smoking. Since each body is unique, the impact varies from person to person.
Yes, the improvement can sometimes be immediate. It can take about 3 months of completely quitting smoking for the male to produce healthy viable sperms. It takes about 3 months for sperms to mature.
Sindhuja, a mother of two, is an obsessive mom with a keen interest in psychology, especially child psychology. Her quest for knowledge and way with words led her to become a passionate content writer. She transformed her love for writing into a full-fledged career which incidentally also turned up being the perfect stress buster for the last 5 years.Read more.
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