Abstract:
Rationale: Adverse effects of smoking on reproductive health are well established, but the extent
of its effects on semen parameters is inconclusive.
Aims: Aims of this study were to find out the prevalence of smoking habit in a subfertile population
in Sri Lanka, and to find out the relationship between smoking and semen parameters.
Design and setting: Cohort study was carried out at the, Infertility unit, department of Obstetrics
and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ragama.
Patients and Method: Detailed history (including smoking habit) was taken from 1300 men
undergoing subfertility evaluation. Males with Azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia, history
of STI, mumps related orchitis, varicocele, DM, use of recreational drugs and regular medication
for any other disease and occasional smokers were excluded. Four hundred men who fulfilled the
inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study (200 smokers and 200 non smokers). Semen analyses
of all subjects with the standard 3-5 days of sexual abstinence were performed. Statistical analysis
was done using the SPSS 10.0 for windows software.
Result: Pathozoospermics were significantly high among smokers compared to non smokers (93
Vs. 73, p<0.05). Similarly, semen volume, total sperm count and morphology were low in smokers;
mean (SD) volume 2.30 (1.18) Vs. 2.89 (2.36), total count 124.75 (105.14) Vs. 151.94 (114.10)
and morphology 45.57 (13.05) 48.17 (12.86) respectively (p<0.05). Both duration of smoking and
intensity (duration x number of cigarettes) had negative correlation with sperm viability; r = -0.199
and -0.151 respectively (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Smoking is associated with reduced semen quality affecting the semen volume, total
sperm count, morphology and viability in this population.
