If you are having trouble conceiving and you are worried that you could be the problem, one of the best things you can do for not only your reproductive health but also for your general health, is give up smoking. Smoking affects male fertility in a few different ways:

1. Smoking causes damage to the sperm themselves, researchers think this may be due to the damage done by tobacco to the seminal plasma, a nutrient-rich liquid which is found in semen. And, it is not only the smokers themselves who are at risk but a male whose mother or father was a smoker has a reduced likelihood of becoming a father himself. It is also thought that a smoker who becomes a parent can pass on genetic mutations to his offspring. This sperm damage is accumulative, the longer a man has been a smoker the damage that is done to the sperm increases.

2. Smoking actually lowers the sperm count. One of the reasons for a lowered sperm count is insufficient levels of vitamin B12, vitamin E and zinc, all essential for healthy reproduction. It is a known fact that smoking inhibits the absorption of these vitamins and minerals and it can also disrupt the balance of hormones. The sperm count of male smokers can be as much as 15% below those who do not smoke. The average number of sperm per sample of ejaculate can be anywhere between 50 million and 150 million per millilitre and this reduction could mean the number of sperm could be as low as 20 million per millilitre. The average sperm count around the world has lowered over the recent decades and the main reason for these lowered figures has been named as smoking.

3. Smoking affects sperm mobility. Sperm mobility is defined as the ability of the sperm to make its way through the vagina and cervix in order to reach the egg and achieve fertilisation. The sperm have to be moving not only at a suitable speed but also in the right direction in order for them to reach the egg. An average measure of sperm mobility is when 50% of the sperm are moving correctly, smoking affects this figure meaning less sperm are actually capable of reaching the egg.

4. Smoking can affect the ability to maintain an erection. An erection is achieved by the blood in the penis which creates pressure in the muscles and makes it expand. Anything that can interfere with that flow of blood has the potential to cause impotence. It is a well known fact that smoking can lead to the break down of the tiny blood vessels that carry blood to the penis. If the blood cannot flow freely into the penis an erection cannot be achieved and maintained. It is therefore absolutely essential that these tiny blood vessels are in a very healthy condition. Smoking makes the arteries that lead to the penis close up and this in turn reduces the blood pressure, and obviously if an erection cannot be achieved it is impossible for conception to occur.