• ENG

E-cigarettes can harm fertility in young women : Research

E-cigarettes can harm fertility in young women : Research
Many young and pregnant women are using e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking, but little is known about its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcomes. © Shutterstock

According to a study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, e-cigarettes can delay the onset of pregnancy in young women. Read on to know more.

Written by IANS |Published : September 7, 2019 10:08 AM IST

Researchers have found that e-cigarette usage may impair fertility and pregnancy outcomes in young women.

Many young and pregnant women are using e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking, but little is known about its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcomes.

"We found that e-cigarette usage prior to conception significantly delayed implantation of a fertilized embryo to the uterus, thus delaying and reducing fertility (in mice)," said study author Kathleen Caron from the University of North Carolina.

Also Read

More News

"We also discovered that e-cigarette usage throughout pregnancy changed the long-term health and metabolism of female offspring - imparting lifelong, second-generation effects on the growing foetus," Caron added.

For the study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, the researchers used a mouse model to examine whether e-cigarette exposure impairs fertility and offspring health.

After exposure to e-cigarette vapour, female mice showed decreased embryo implantation and a significant delay in the onset of pregnancy.

Female offspring exposed to e-cigarettes in utero also failed to gain as much weight as those of control mice.

"These findings are important because they change our views on the perceived safety of e-cigarettes as alternatives to traditional cigarettes before and during pregnancy," Caron added.

E-cigarettes are driving increases in tobacco product use among youth, researchers noted.