Smoking one cigarette a day

[Haf05]

We have been ttc for about 5 years. Our infertility is unexplained. Recent tests showed my husband has slightly elevated levels of dna sperm fragmentation. He smokes one cigarette a day though otherwise leads a relatively clean lifestyle. I have suggested he stop while we are ttc but he wont, asking me to present him with evidence that smoking one cigarette has an effect on fertility. He gets incredibly defensive, leading to arguments. Has anyone had any useful advice from fertility practitioners re casual smoking and effect on fertility? Or can point me to any research?

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My partner smoked and I thought it would affect his sperm but tests were good he did stop smoking with champix thankfully & we are 38w pregnant but we had mc in the past.

[Running79]

Fertility people will ask you how much alcohol you consume and if you smoke.

I would have to ask myself what is the point of smoking 1 cigarette a day, I’ve never been a smoker but In my mind you either smoke or you don’t!

If I have an alcoholic drink, I wouldn’t just have 1 it’s pointless 🤷‍♀️

[MofM in reply to Running79]

I often have a single alcoholic drink. It is nice to drink while you are with friends, or just to enjoy the taste of a great glass of wine. It may be cultural (we have a huge wine culture in my country), but I don't see the need for drinking to be tipsy or worse

[Running79 in reply to MofM]

In the U.K. there is a big drink culture, don’t get me wrong if you want one glass that’s fine. But I’d rather not bother! One glass is like drinking fruit juice to me so I normally have a bottle at least if I’m going to have a drink. Certainly not tipsy on that! Not that I can drink as I’m 12 weeks + 5 so have to make do with sniffing my husbands glass

[MofM in reply to Running79]

Yeah, definitely a cultural thing. On the other hand, many of my pregnant friends didn't have a problem with a sip or two (I wouldn't dare, honestly!). Congratulations on your pregnancy!

[Running79 in reply to MofM]

Thanks, no I wouldn’t either. I gave up before I started my last round so that was around the end of January beginning of February

[MofM]

I strongly believe that smoking is bad. On the other hand, I don't think a single cigarette a day will make a huge difference. It may help him keep his cool and function as a stress relief (and we all know how hard is to go through this hell).

[Nuszkahope]

Hello,

I also think that having one cigarette a day will not make much difference, it’s not worth having arguments because of it x

[Sparklylife]

Sounds a very sensitive subject and hopefully will not cause too much tension/stress between you. You might find this article useful, they have linked their sources at the bottom as to where they got the information from!

tommys.org/pregnancy-inform...

All the best to you both - and hopefully it will happen for you soon! Xx

[Weareback2]

Just for your info, when we were going thru IVF we got carbon monoxide tests done randomly. Both have to be smoke free in order to be aporoved for NHS funding for IVF.

[NemoFish]

Smoking is a big no no when it comes to ivf. Just one a day is enough for the nhs to turn you down for funding, so they consider the effects of smoking very serious. My boyfriend doesn’t smoke but he’s now asked his colleagues not to smoke around him as well, it’s not worth the risk if he gets carbon monoxide tested as we’re having treatment.

[hifer]

Oh god I really feel for you. I had a very long battle with my now husband who has smoked for years (and long before I met him). We had 2 failed transfers before he gave up smoking. By our third transfer he had stopped as I refused to do another one until he had. I am not laying our failed transfers at his door (at all) but I wanted to give us the best possible chance for our next transfer. I don’t know the best advice to give you. It would be best if he didn’t smoke at all of course. But you can’t get a smoker to give up until they really want to. Would he get some help if he can’t give up by himself? He can’t say for sure that the smoking isn’t related to the sperm fragmentation (just like we can’t say for sure that it is linked!) I totally feel for you and your situation x

[Papillonblue]

Are you sure it’s just 1 cigarette a day? I’m sorry to be a cynic but I suspect it’s more. Ultimately you can’t make your husband stop but given all we sacrifice and go through asking for him to stop a 1 a day habit doesn’t seem much.

[Running79 in reply to Papillonblue]

Like I said it seems a bit pointless being a smoker in the first place