(143) THE EFFECT OF SMOKING CESSATION ON SEMEN QUALITY

Abstract Objectives Our primary aim was to investigate the reversibility of the negative impact of smoking on male fertility. Secondarily, we studied the effect of both time after smoking cessation as well as smoking index on semen quality improvement. Methods Our study included 60 participants who applied to a smoking cessation program. After completing a fertility background questionnaire, 2 semen specimens, provided 2 weeks apart, were analyzed for each candidate on three different occasions. First, right before smoking cessation then at 3 and 6 months after stopping smoking, respectively. Semen quality was compared between the 3 occasions. The degree of change was correlated with the level of smoking. Nicotine level in urine was used for smoking cessation compliance monitoring during the study. Results Comparing semen quality on the 3 different occasions respectively, we detected a significant improvement in semen volume (3.33 ml ± 1.07 vs. 3.88 ml ± 0.80 vs. 4.34 ml ± 0.67, P < 0.001), sperm concentration (14.77 million /ml ± 6.49 vs. 17.71 million /ml ± 6.41 vs. 19.27 million/ml ± 6.46, P < 0.001), total sperm count (49.33 million ± 25.31 vs. 70.16 million ± 30.85 vs. 84.01 million ± 31.00, P < 0.001), progressive motility (20.7% vs. 35.3% vs. 42.28%, P < 0.001), total motility (41.48% vs. 60.33% vs. 67.67%, P < 0.001) and abnormal morphology (69.32% Vs. 50.88% vs. 40.82%, P < 0.001). Improvement in all parameters was positively corelated to the duration after cessation. Higher smoking indices were related to higher levels of improvement in semen volume, sperm concentration, and total count (areas under the curve of 0.867, 0.852, and 0.863 respectively, P < 0.001 for each). Conclusions The negative effect of smoking on semen quality is reversible. Smoking cessation has a time-dependent positive effect on main semen parameters, hence, positive potential for fecundity improvement in men. Conflicts of Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.