CT (Reuters Health) - Fertility appears to be impaired in men who are active smokers and women who are active smokers or are exposed to passive smoke, according to the results of a population-based study.

Dr. W. Christopher L. Ford, of the University of Bristol, UK, and colleagues collected data on 12,106 couples who were expecting to deliver between April 1991 and December 1992. The investigators asked these couples, among other things, about the time it had taken to conceive: less than 6 months, 6 to 11 months, 1 to 3 years, and more than 3 years

As reported in the October issue of Fertility and Sterility, Dr. Ford and colleagues found that "delayed conception was statistically significantly associated with both active smoking by the women (odds ratio 1.23 for more than 6 months and 1.54 for more than 12 months) and her exposure to passive smoking (odds ratio 1.17 and 1.14) compared with women with no exposure to tobacco smoke."

In addition, the researchers noted that "heavy smoking by men was independently associated with delayed conception." Moreover, according to the report, the "effect increased with the number of cigarettes."

While smoking does not prevent conception, the delay it causes may "be critical in some persons, such as those attempting to conceive late in life or those who require treatment for distinct subfertility," Dr. Ford's group points out. The investigators stress that for couples trying to conceive, both partners should "stop smoking," and women should avoid passive smoke in the workplace and at home.

(From Reuters Health)