Vaping ( e-cigarettes ) & IVF

[Ljmajor86]

Hello!

I have been referred to a nhs ivf clinic and have my first appointment with them in 4 weeks time, I currently vape and use 3mg liquid. So a small amount of nicotine, ive read online that the nhs ivf clinics use a breathalyser now.. to detect if smoking? Does anyone know if this is true? If it is would I need to come off even liquids that don’t even contain nicotine? Or how long it takes to come out of your system for tests etc?

Any information at all I would be most grateful as I’m panicking at the time frame

Many thanks

[Lilli79]

Hi, not sure if it's the same everywhere but we both had to do breath tests. I have never smoked but my husband vaped up until about 3 months before we started ivf. They said if there was any trace of nicotine we would be refused treatment and we'd have to start again. Our consultant told my husband he had to give up vaping, and he was only using the 0% nicotine stuff. She said because its not regulated the 0% stuff can still contain traces of nicotine. I'm sorry to tell you that, but I think you should give yourself the best chance. I know it's probably already a stressful time, but do you think you could quit?

[Cinderella5]

Hi yes they do test and you will need to be off vaping. Cant advise how long it takes to come out of your system, perhaps someone else can advise on that. Good luck!Xx

[Lilli79 in reply to Cinderella5]

I know with cigarettes if you're a heavy smoker it takes about 3 months, but a light smoker is about 3 weeks. Not sure about vaping though....

[JULIETJAM]

We are in Edinburgh and yeah NHS uses a breathalyser. We were advised by our GP to stop straight away. I have never smoked but my hubby did. The consultant we spoke to said to us that it takes 3 months for nicotine to completely get out of the system. Hubby gave up and Lucky enough there were 4 months before we could start. He was tempted to do Shisha when we visited Africa in November but I fought so hard to stop him.

The nurse said had they detected any slight amount of nicotine in this breath then we would have been denied treatment.

Unfortunately I know nothing about vaping. Sorry not a positive reply.x

[Elizabeth86]

From an ex-vaper - I get that it becomes a coping mechanism through this whole thing but... you know without us telling you that the best thing is to give up the nicotine completely. I did and it’s the best thing I’ve done. I do not want to put my body through IVF and have anything in the back of my mind that I could be the reason it failed.. I would honestly recommend giving it up before IVF and if your not ready to give up the nicotine maybe give yourself a little longer? The breath test isn’t the issue I’m afraid to say.. tough love xxx

[Ljmajor86]

Thankyou for the replies ladies!

I’m more than happy to quit the vaping, i haven’t touched a cigarette in over 3/4 years now. Obviously getting prepared for ivf and my health is the most important thing, I’m just panicking the nicotine from the vape will still be in my system in 4 weeks time of the 1st appointment at the ivf clinic. I will stop today! More important things now to concentrate on x

[Lilli79 in reply to Ljmajor86]

Hi Ljmajor86 i can't remember exactly but I'm quite sure they only did our breathalyser check at the pre planning appointment which was only a couple of weeks before I started on meds. They probably won't do the test in your first appointment, but if you give up now you should be OK. Good luck with it all. I know from husband that giving up is difficult but so worth it in the end xx

[Elizabeth86 in reply to Ljmajor86]

My clinic didn’t do a breathalyser so not all do.. I’m pretty sure when I gave up it said the nicotine leaves your body within a few days. It’s more the cravings that last longer! I was also on 3mg and I’d say after 2 weeks it was fine (now use airwaves gum instead 😂) best of luck chick try not to worry. Quit and you’ll be fine xxx

[Aleelilook]

My clinic didn’t test us either so I think it just depends where you are. I’d probably knock it on the head just in case, and as an ex smoker I get it, but once you get past day 6 then you’re over the worse of it! Tictacs were my god send!! Good luck! Xx

[Hidden]

Hi myself and husband both has checks done to see if we smoked by the NHS so they will check by breatheloser xxx

[Anna00]

Hi yes they do, we both never smoked and we did the test both breath and blood. My nurse told us if they find out nicotine on our body they won’t offer the treatment. If you can quit it’s better to do it x

[Maikai]

No need to stop. It measures carbon monoxide and there is none in e-cigarettes, I used my ecig on the way to the screening and passed. Stopping nic would definitely be a good move but I wouldn’t panic about the brethalizer

[vic77]

yup we both got breath tests..what was funny though was we never expected it. we had our initial appointment 2 years ago on 30th Dec so we had been out the night before and both had a cigarette as we would be partial to the odd social smoke. when we saw them take out the breath tests we both panicked but thankfully we were ok..needless to say we never smoked again 😂😂😂xx