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Smoking, alcohol consumption can harm your reproductive health, experts warn
Smoking, alcohol are quietly wrecking fertility

Smoking, alcohol consumption can harm your reproductive health, experts warn

Jun 08, 2025
03:28 pm

What's the story

Leading medical experts have warned that alcohol consumption, smoking, and vaping are silently harming reproductive health in both men and women. The warning comes as fertility problems continue to rise in various regions. Dr. Anuja Thomas from Motherhood Hospitals in Kharghar highlighted that these habits can damage reproductive organs and hormones, potentially affecting the health of future generations.

Health risks

How smoking affects fertility

Dr. Thomas emphasized that Smoking not only raises the risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy but also damages sperm DNA, potentially causing miscarriage and birth defects. "Long-term use may also harm fetal development, causing complications during pregnancy and delivery. It is the right time to quit these vices by paying utmost attention to reproductive health," she told PTI.

Gender impact

Effects of smoking on women's and men's fertility

Dr. Manju Gupta from Motherhood Hospitals in Noida reiterated that smoking affects both male and female fertility. In women, it speeds up egg loss, damages fallopian tubes, and increases the risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. For men, smoking lowers sperm count and causes DNA damage in sperm, which can lead to miscarriages or birth defects.

Misconceptions

Debunking the myth

Dr. Gupta also debunked the myth that quitting smoking or vaping a few months before trying to conceive is enough to reverse any damage done. She stressed that both habits can have long-term effects on fertility for both men and women. Dr. Neha Tripathi, a fertility specialist at Nova IVF Fertility in Indirapuram, Delhi NCR, echoed these views.

Additional factors

Impact of these habits on reproductive health

Dr. Tripathi said that smoking, alcohol consumption, and vaping can lead to hormonal imbalance, reduced egg quality, and irregular menstrual cycles in women. She warned that these habits make it difficult to conceive. In men, these substances reduce sperm count, damage sperm DNA, and lower testosterone levels, all of which affect male fertility.

Cancer risk

These vices can also increase cancer risk

Dr. Gaurav Jaswal from TGH Onco Life Cancer Centre, Talegaon, warned that these vices can also increase the risk of various cancers. He said they can damage DNA, weaken immunity, and trigger long-term inflammation: factors that could lead to breast, cervical, oral, and lung cancers in women later in life. Dr. Jaswal urged women to make informed choices about smoking, alcohol consumption, and vaping.