Sperm concentration and semen volume increase after smoking cessation in infertile men

Abstract

Smoking has negative reproductive consequences. This study investigated the effect of smoking cessation on the main semen parameters. We included 90 participants who applied to our infertility clinic and smoked at least 20 cigarettes a day for at least 1 year. Of the 90 participants, 48 were in the study group and 42 were in the control group. Semen analysis was performed before and at least 3 months after quitting smoking in the study group. Semen analysis was repeated at baseline and at least 3 months later in the control group. Semen parameters such as volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, morphology, and motility were evaluated according to the World Health Organization criteria. Patient characteristics as well as the duration of the smoking period, the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the time elapsed since smoking cessation were recorded. The mean age of the participants was 34.69 ± 5.3 years, and the duration of infertility was 34.12 ± 12.1 months ( n = 90). The number of cigarettes smoked per day was 30.14 ± 6.69, and the smoking time was 8.31 ± 3.53 years. The average time to quit smoking was 104.2 ± 11.51 days ( n = 48). A significant increase in semen volume, sperm concentration and total sperm count was observed 3 months after smoking cessation (2.48 ± 0.79 ml vs. 2.90 ± 0.77 ml, p = 0.002; 18.45 × 10 6 /ml ± 8.56 vs. 22.64 × 10 6 /ml ± 11.69, p = 0.001; 45.04 ± 24.38 × 10 6 vs. 65.1 ± 34.9 × 10 6 , p < 0.001, respectively). This study showed that smoking cessation had a positive effect on sperm concentration, semen volume, and total sperm count. Although smoking cessation contributed positively to sperm motility and morphology, the difference was not statistically significant.

Smoking Induces a Decline in Semen Quality and the Activation of Stress Response Pathways in Sperm

“…Several studies have also reported a decrease in semen volume in smokers when compared with non-smokers [34][35][36]. This reduction in semen volume observed among smokers may be a result of the impact of nicotine, which is present in cigarettes, on accessory glands, such as the seminal vesicle, prostate, and urethral glands [37]. Previous studies have shown that smokers have significantly lower ultrasound-derived seminal vesicle volume when compared with non-smokers [38].…”

Smoking and infertility in Saudi Arabian Males: A Systematic Review

“…Before the current WHO manual for the evaluation of human semen was published, earlier research had shown that quitting smoking was associated with an improvement in semen parameters. The result of recent studies makes it clear that quitting smoking had a positive impact on sperm concentration, semen volume, and total sperm count (43). However, none of the research we reviewed examined the effects of smoking frequency or cessation on the features of semen.…”

Unraveling the Impact of Sperm DNA Fragmentation on Reproductive Outcomes

“…123 Nonetheless, few studies explored the effect of smoking cessation on semen quality, suggesting that the effect can be reversed. 124,125 Recently, Kulaksiz et al 125 assessed serial semen analyses in a group of men who stopped smoking (n ¼ 48) and compared them to a smoking group (n ¼ 42). Significant increases in semen volume (þ0.4 mL; p ¼ 0.002), sperm concentration (þ4.19 million/mL; p ¼ 0.001), and total sperm count (þ20.06 million; p < 0.001) were observed after 3 months of smoking cessation and were significantly higher than those observed in the smoking group.…”