Does smoking affect IVF?

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Effects of smoking on IVF

IVF refers to the process of completing fertilization and embryo development under in vitro culture conditions through assisted reproductive technology, and then implanting the embryo into the mother's uterus, thus realizing pregnancy and delivery. However, smoking may have some effects on IVF. This article will elaborate from four aspects.

Impact 1: Germ cell quality is damaged

Smoking has obvious adverse effects on female reproductive system, including the quality and quantity of eggs. Smoking can cause DNA damage in eggs, form mutations, and increase the risk of chromosomal aberration. In addition, smoking also reduces the number of eggs in women, prolongs pregnancy, and increases the risk of miscarriage.

Smoking also has a negative impact on the male reproductive system by affecting the quality and quantity of sperm. Studies have found that smoking will lead to abnormal sperm morphology, decreased sperm concentration and decreased motility, reducing the success rate of fertilization.

Therefore, smoking will directly affect the quality of healthy eggs and sperm required in the early stage of IVF, thus reducing the success rate of IVF.

Impact 2: The success rate of embryo implantation decreases

Smoking may affect the implantation rate of IVF embryos. Studies have shown that smoking can lead to poor blood circulation in the endometrium, reduce the expression of egg cell protein, and reduce the adhesion and implantation ability of embryos in the endometrium. In addition, smoking can also increase the abnormality of endometrial immune function and inhibit the growth and development of embryos.

Therefore, smoking may reduce the embryo implantation rate of IVF and increase the risk of pregnancy failure.

Impact 3: Increased pregnancy complications

Smoking increases the risk of pregnancy complications in IVF. Smoking causes a lot of harmful substances in the mother's blood, which can be transferred to the fetus through the placenta and affect the normal development of the fetus. Research has found that smoking will increase the incidence of complications such as hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, placental abruption, etc.

In addition, smoking also affects the growth and development of the fetus, leading to an increased risk of low birth weight, premature delivery and infant death.

Impact 4: Increased risk to children's health

The effects of smoking on IVF may continue into childhood. Research shows that smoking parents will increase the risk of children suffering from asthma, respiratory infection, otitis media and other respiratory diseases. In addition, smoking also has a negative impact on children's neural development, increasing the risk of children suffering from mental and behavioral disorders such as inattention and behavioral problems.

To sum up, smoking has a variety of negative effects on IVF, including damaged germ cell quality, reduced success rate of embryo implantation, increased pregnancy complications and increased risk of child health. Therefore, it is recommended that couples who want to have IVF should stop smoking before pregnancy to improve the success rate of IVF and the health level of children.