OB/GYN: Roy Pitkin, M.D.
My husband smokes. Can tobacco damage his sperm?
By Roy Pitkin, M.D.
While there is no evidence that smoking damages sperm, there are many other reasons to be concerned about having a smoker in the house. Secondhand smoke poses a real risk to both a pregnant woman and her unborn baby, since the smoke she inhales is only a little less than if she smoked herself. A pregnant woman exposed to tobacco smoke is at increased risk of premature delivery, as well as other complications. Then, after the baby is born, exposure to secondhand smoke can increase your child's risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and can lead to infant and childhood respiratory illnesses. Finally, you need to be concerned about the adverse effects--including links to lung cancer and heart disease--that this habit has on your husband's health. For all these reasons, quitting smoking is the best thing he can do!
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The content on these pages is provided as general information only and should not be substituted for the advice of your physician.
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