Smoking is found to be one of the major factors for sterility in males. It has been confirmed by a study that sperms of smokers are less fertile and inadequate for embryo survival. Smoking reduces sperm count and damages sperm protein.
Smokers take comparatively longer time in conception as compared to non-smokers. Smoking is equally bad for both males and females.
Read on further to know the negative effects of excess smoking on sperm protein and sperm count.
Smoking damages sperms and reduces their inability to fertilize eggs.
Excess smoking reduces sperm count and also affects sperm motility.
Human sperm cells possess two small highly charged proteins called protamine 1 and protamine 2.
In case of hardcore smokers, the DNA alphabet of these sperm has one or two letters missing and this is irreparable in nature.
Damaged sperm is incapable of fertilizing the egg.
Thus, excess smoking leads to sterility in males and the prospective fathers must quit smoking at least 3 months before conception. It is because sperm needs at least 3 months to transform from germ cell into full sperm.
Damaged sperm lacks the ability to combat free radicals in seminal fluid.
Adam Griffin, MD, of the University of Rochester explained, “Free radicals can cause sperm DNA fragmentation as well as issues with sperm motility and fertilization.”
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