When should OH stop vaping?

[PurplePiggie]

Hi, we are in the process of trying to get referred for IVF on the NHS, OH needed to do a sample for analysis which we took into the clinic today, in advance of an appointment on the 3rd Jan at the GP's to hopefully do the referral. He gave up smoking cigarettes years ago but still uses a vape, using liquids that are nicotine based, they said this 'might be a problem' so my question is, does anyone have experience of how long you have to be smoke/nicotine free to get referral? Could it be ok if he stops now and has a negative test result (if they test)? I'm guessing like most things it'll probably depend on the clinic but wanted to gauge likelihood of it delaying the already tortureous process...! Thanks in advance x

[Missl73]

Early research suggests that vaping is also harmful to sperm and this may not show up in the normal sperm analysis as it can also cause the sperm DNA to be more fragmented which can impact fertilisation and blastocyst rates. In terms of funding I don't know whether it gets classed as smoking (my guess is perhaps not?). However, it takes 3 months for sperm to regenerate so ideally he needs to stop at least 3 months before you plan to have egg collection to give yourselves the best possible chance of success and so you have the best quality sperm you can x

[PurplePiggie in reply to Missl73]

Thanks x

[LizzieBW]

Hi 👋

I'm sorry you're having to consider assisted fertility treatment but welcome!🍍

I think every CCG has different criteria for eligibility checks. I'm in Scotland and my CCG specifically specifies both partners must be non-smoking for at least 3 months prior to commencement of treatment and it states in brackets (including e-cigarettes and nicotine replacements like patches etc). It's my understanding they only do a Carbon Monoxide breath test to test whether both partners are smoking Tobacco but as Missl mentioned, continued Nicotine use could still have an impact which is probably why they stipulate. I found my CCG's IVF criteria quite easily by googling NHS IVF criteria for my catchment (prior to being sent the information through from our clinic).

Hopefully you can find this to see what your CCG stipulates 🙂 x

[PurplePiggie in reply to LizzieBW]

Thanks, yep I've had a look at the CCG criteria now and it doesnt say anything about a time limit in there, so I think we'll just have to ask the GP but hopefully I'll convince him to switch to nicotine free stuff in the meanwhile, just don't need the stress of him being grumpy if it's not necessary haha but from what you've both said it's be a good idea anyway regardless of funding criteria x

[Pancakexox]

We were tested on our planning appointment, you will need to have stop smoking/vaping at least a month before to make sure you are within their limits. If you fail you will have to go on an NHS quit smoking course and prove you have not smoked for 6 months as smoking is very harmful to men and women’s reproductive organs etc. My partner quit 1 month before our planning appointment and he blow way below the NHS limit to qualify for funding, so about 3 months prior to egg collection ☺️

Hope that helps!

[PurplePiggie in reply to Pancakexox]

Thanks 🙂 x