To Assess the Impact of Smoking on Semen Quality: A Comprehensive Study of Semen Parameters in North Indian Men

Objectives Infertility affects a large proportion of couples worldwide, with male factors accounting for approximately half of the cases. Smoking and other lifestyle choices have been linked to decreased sperm quality, which includes factors such as sperm count, motility, and morphology. This study intends to assess the influence of smoking on sperm quality among north Indian males seeking reproductive treatment. Material and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at Matritava Advanced IVF and Maternity Centre in Gurugram, Haryana, India, from September 2023 to June 2024. The study comprised 100 men aged 21–55 years old who were coming for infertility treatment and inclined to participate in the study and were divided into two groups: smokers ( n = 50) and non-smokers ( n = 50). Semen samples were analysed according to WHO guidelines (2021) to evaluate parameters such as semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, and morphology. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 25.0. Results The average age of smokers and non-smokers was 35.10 ± 4.41 years and 35.72 ± 3.80 years, respectively ( p = 0.45). Smokers showed more abnormalities in semen parameters compared to non-smokers. Key findings include semen volume of (2.86 ± 1.04 ml) in smokers as compared to non-smokers (2.40 ± 0.67 ml) ( p = 0.01). Smokers exhibited lower average sperm concentration (51.91 ± 37.81 million/ml) than non-smokers (67.14 ± 56.76 million/ml) ( p = 0.07). Smoking significantly reduced sperm morphology (2.70 ± 0.81%) compared to non-smokers (3.50 ± 0.76%) ( p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between total and progressive motility between the two groups. Conclusion Smoking has a considerable negative impact on sperm quality, particularly morphology, in males seeking fertility treatment. These findings emphasise the necessity to incorporate smoking cessation 3 months before Starting the fertility treatment to improve reproductive outcomes. Healthcare organisations should emphasise the negative effects of smoking on male fertility and advocate lifestyle modifications as part of comprehensive fertility care.