Cigarette smoking is related to a decrease in semen volume in a population of fertile men

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the semen quality and hormonal levels in fertile men according to their level of cigarette smoking. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We evaluated 889 fertile men who came for a vasectomy for sterilization purposes. The men included 522 non-smokers, 143 mild smokers (< 10 cigarettes/day), 154 moderate smokers (11-20/day), and 70 heavy smokers (> 20/day). We evaluated sperm concentration, motility, motion variables and hormonal levels in these men. RESULTS There were no significant differences among the groups in sperm concentration or motility, or in levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, or serum total testosterone. Also, sperm motion characteristics did not differ across the groups. Semen volume was the only semen variable which tended to decrease according to the number of cigarettes smoked. CONCLUSIONS Cigarette smoking had no apparent effect on sperm concentration, motility or reproductive hormonal levels, but tended to reduce semen volume.