Are vapes harmful to fertility and menstrual health?

Question

Hello doctor,

How does smoking specifically affect female fertility and menstrual health? I read somewhere that it can bring on early menopause. Is that true even in light smokers? Also, if I am planning IVF, how long before should I quit smoking to reverse the damage, if that is possible? Does passive smoking affect female hormone balance or pregnancy outcomes? How does smoking impact conditions like cervical cancer, PCOS, or endometriosis? Are vapes and e-cigarettes equally harmful to reproductive health or pregnancy?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Smoking in light or moderate amounts can harm reproductive health in several ways:

Smoking damages DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in oocytes (eggs), which leads to fewer or poor egg quality, and most smokers have anovulatory cycles where no eggs are released.
And smoking can lead to miscarriage because it affects the uterine blood supply, which leads to miscarriage, and smoking has a bad effect on IVF (in vitro fertilization) because smokers will need higher doses of medication and a lower success rate.
New medical studies show that smoking can bring on menopause one to five years earlier, depending on intensity and duration.
The risk is dose-dependent, but not exclusive to heavy smokers; even light or moderate smokers are at risk.
Smoking has toxins (especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) that destroy ovarian follicles prematurely and lead to early menopause.
Quitting can slow this process, but damage to ovarian reserve may not fully reverse if done late, and if you are planning for IVF, you must stop smoking at least six months before starting IVF to improve your egg quality.
During pregnancy, even secondary smoking affects the child, and regarding vapes. Most vapes contain nicotine, which reduces blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, which will affect embryo implantation. Sometimes, it lowers estrogen. Some vape liquids also contain toxins and heavy metals that may impair egg and sperm quality.
So, stop smoking as soon as possible because besides your reproductive organs, it also damages your lungs and heart vessels.
If you want, I can help guide you with some medications that can make quitting smoking easier.

Treatment plan:So, stop smoking as soon as possible because besides your reproductive organs, it also damages your lungs and heart vessels.

Preventive measures:If you want, I can help guide you with some medications that can make quitting smoking easier.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.