Relationship between semen analysis and tobacco addiction: A comparative study

Background: In India, chewing tobacco is systematically associated with socioeconomic markers at the individual and household level. Individuals with less education are 2.69 times more likely to smoke and chew tobacco than those with a higher education. Tobacco smoking leads to reduced semen quality including semen volume, sperm density, motility, viability, and normal morphology in smokers Materials & Methods: A retrospective search of 200 patients came for semen analysis out of which 100 were smokers and 100 were non-smokers in our lab as a part of infertility investigation were included in the study and semen analysis was performed during the time period of June 2023 to December 2023. Result: In the present study of 200 cases, 100 patients were smokers and 100 were non-smokers. The mean age of smokers was 29.6±6.6, in which we encountered 67% men with sperm count below reference level (15-18 millions/ml). The mean age of non-smokers was 30.8±4.5, in which we encountered 12% men with sperm count below reference level (15-18 millions/ml). In our study total motility of sperm in smokers below the reference value of 40% was 32% and for non-smokers it was 03%. Progressive motility was decreased in 49% of smokers and 10% in non-smokers. Conclusion: The analysis of semen samples in relation to smoking habits reveals a significant positive correlation between smoking and adverse semen parameters. Consistent findings indicate that smokers exhibit lower sperm counts, reduced motility, and decreased vitality compared to non-smokers.