Planning for parenthood? Could tobacco be getting in the way?

Couples preparing for pregnancy may change their diet, track fertile days and take vitamins. Yet a packet of cigarettes, a vape or a container of zarda (dry tobacco leaf) inside the home may quietly undermine that care.

Tobacco is usually discussed as a cause of cancer, heart disease and breathing problems. Its effect on fertility receives less attention. Smoking can make it harder for a woman to become pregnant by affecting her eggs and disrupting the body’s reproductive processes. It can also increase pregnancy complications and loss.

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Men are not spared. Smoking may lower sperm count, slow sperm movement and reduce sperm quality. It can also contribute to problems with erections. Infertility is therefore not a “women’s issue”, and tobacco use should be discussed with both partners.

Cigarettes are only part of the picture. Bidis (hand-rolled tobacco cigarette), waterpipes, vaping products and smokeless tobacco can also expose the body to nicotine and other harmful substances. In Bangladesh, zarda and gul are often viewed as socially acceptable or less dangerous because they are not smoked. However, smokeless does not mean harmless. Vaping should not be considered a safe option for couples trying to conceive either.

There is another overlooked victim: the partner who does not use tobacco. Second-hand smoke can enter the lungs of spouses, children and other family members. Smoking beside a window, under a kitchen fan or in another room cannot make an indoor space completely safe. The most effective rule is simple—no smoking anywhere inside the home or car.

The subject is particularly timely because the World Health Organisation (WHO) will spotlight tobacco and infertility on 9 September. Its focus will include new tobacco products and the effects of second-hand exposure.

Quitting is not always easy. Nicotine creates dependence, so repeated attempts do not represent weakness or failure. Support from a doctor, a clear quit date and encouragement from family members can make the process more manageable. A partner can help by removing tobacco products, avoiding blame and keeping the home smoke-free.

People seeking fertility advice should mention cigarettes, vaping, zarda, gul and regular exposure to another person’s smoke. Doctors should ask both partners rather than assuming only one person’s habits matter.

Tobacco is not responsible for every fertility problem, and quitting cannot guarantee pregnancy. Still, removing tobacco is a meaningful step towards protecting conception, pregnancy and the health of a future child. The first gift to that child may simply be truly cleaner air.

E-mail: sumaiya.khaled@thedailystar.net