As the cityscape morphs into a modern dystopia, so do our lifestyles. An increasing number of young Indian women are looking to cigarettes in the hope of keeping slim and getting rid of stress. The killer habit, however, is causing a rapid decline in fertility among young women.
“The incidence of smoking is decreasing globally except for India and China. Women, especially those working in the corporate sector have misconceptions like smoking can prevent obesity and reduce one’s appetite. What they don't understand is that it is this habit that leads to cancer of the uterus, ovarian cancer, still-birth, and premature deliveries. Smoking also makes the child prone to asthma,” said Dr R Kishore Kumar, CEO, The Cradle.
Dr Kumar was recently presented with a case where the woman was a regular smoker with a high profile job in the corporate sector. “She was finding it difficult to conceive, and couldn’t give up smoking. Finally, once she conceived, in the fourth month of her pregnancy, she miscarried,” said Dr Kumar.
“Tobacco in any form causes vasopasm, that is the reduction in the size of blood vessels, or the thinning of the vessel. This, in women, affects ovarian function and reduces the blood flow in the uterus. This in turn affects egg release and disturbs the menstrual cycle,” said Dr Padmini Prasad, director, Institute of Sexual Medicine. According to Dr Prasad: “Due to a deficit in the blood supply from the narrowing of blood vessels the pregnant woman carries a high risk of abortion. Besides, the baby may face growth reduction and at times, premature delivery and related complications.”
A lack of adequate supply of blood can lead to premature uterine contractions in the woman leading to the pre-mature delivery of an under-weight baby, said Dr Prasad.
“There is a direct relation between nicotine addiction and infertility in both men and women. Certain free radicals are released in the body because of nicotine and that affects the eggs. Also regular smoking increases the level of carbon monoxide in the body, which is also harmful to the eggs,” said Dr Aarthi Bharat, gynaecologist, Sagar Hospital.
Quitting smoking can alleviate these problems. “If they quit smoking for two to three years prior to planning a family, there is a reversal of the damage caused by nicotine and the body is suitable for conception,” said Dr Bharat.
