How Sheesha, Hookah, Vape Can Cause Infertility In Both Men And Women

In recent years, it has been observed that the younger population has developed quite a fascination for vaping, shisha, or water pipes.

Smoking releases chemicals and toxic substances that damage all the organ systems in our body, primarily the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. While cigarette and beedi smoking, along with traditional tobacco use, are widely recognized as harmful, there's a misconception that e-cigarettes, hookahs, and shisha are safer alternatives.

Vaping, Shisha, Or Water pipes

Little do people know that these safer-appearing alternatives are equally hazardous for our bodies, especially the reproductive system. In recent years, it has been observed that the younger population has developed quite a fascination for vaping, shisha, or water pipes. Dr Neha Yadav, Consultant IVF Specialist, Renew Healthcare, Kolkata, shares that research indicates that such agents can result in long-term damage to ovaries and sperm, a leading cause of subfertility in both men and women.

Sheesha

• Shisha, which is flavoured tobacco, contains nicotine, tar, and heavy metals that directly hamper the quality of eggs and sperm.
• Not only do they reduce the essential proteins in the seminal fluid, but they also cause oxidative stress, leading to sperm fragmentation and reducing the counts, quality, and motility of sperm.
• Moreover, chronic smoking can negatively impact a woman's reproductive potential due to the reduction of the quality and quantity of eggs.
• This is because smoking directly leads to the accumulation of nicotine in the ovarian tissue and follicular fluid, which are essential for healthy egg development.

Hookah

• Hookah, also commonly known as water pipe smoking, is known to be very popular amongst the younger generation, with many consuming the same at local restaurants and pubs.
• However, smoking Hookah leads to the release of many neurotoxic and carcinogenic substances.
• These harmful substances can damage the integrity of sperm DNA, which is essential for transmitting genetic information to the embryo.
• Moreover, it also hampers the ovarian tissue and the quality of eggs in women.

Vaping

• Vaping, a prevalent variant of E-Cigarettes, releases nicotine vapours, though at a lower concentration compared to conventional cigarettes.
• Nicotine hinders progesterone synthesis and limits estrogen biosynthesis, both of which are the primary female hormones, while also impairing the contractility of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
• Additionally, Hookah smoke also releases a cocktail of toxic chemicals that can damage ovaries due to their cytotoxic properties.

Conclusion

It's also important to note that passive smoking is as harmful as active smoking. For men, sperm are usually stored in the reproductive tract for about 78 days before full maturity and functionality. On the other hand, in women, these eggs naturally decrease due to ageing and added stresses owing to smoking. Therefore, it becomes essential to quit smoking in any form altogether.