The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that smoking can decrease the likelihood of pregnancy, associating tobacco use with infertility, reproductive issues, and lower success rates for certain fertility treatments.
In a statement, WHO explained that smoking can harm women’s reproductive health and also damage sperm quality and sexual function in men.
The organization added that even non-smokers may face reproductive risks from exposure to second-hand smoke.
WHO estimates that about one in six people of reproductive age experience infertility at some point in their lives.
It defines infertility as the failure to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected sex.
A review of studies from 2000 to 2026 found that women who currently smoke are 40 percent more likely to be infertile than those who do not.
The organization also emphasized the negative effects of smoking on male fertility.
An analysis of 44 studies involving over 60,000 men linked tobacco use to erectile dysfunction, ejaculation issues, and semen abnormalities.
These abnormalities include poor sperm motility, abnormal sperm shape, and in some cases, no sperm in semen—all of which can impact reproductive potential.
Furthermore, WHO warned that smoking can decrease the effectiveness of fertility treatments.
Evidence from 21 studies suggests that cigarette smoking may reduce the success rates of procedures like in-vitro fertilization by about half.
WHO encourages healthcare providers to discuss the reproductive risks associated with tobacco use with individuals planning to have children and to offer evidence-based support to help them quit.
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