The relationship between passive smoking and ovarian response outcome in ART cycles

Background: Smoking has negative effects on reproductive process. Exposing to cigarette smoking (passive smoking) may exert some effects as the direct smoking.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between ovarian response and passive smoking in women who underwent ART cycles.
Materials and Methods: One hundred-sixty patients who underwent ICSI between 2000 and 2001 were studied in a prospective cohort study. The case group included women whose husbands smoked at least 5 cigarettes daily for 1 year or more. The control group included women with nonsmoking husbands. Women with high FSH level (>12 IU/ml) were excluded. Long standard protocol with GnRH agonist and HMG were used in all patients. In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer was carried out in a standard fashion.
Results: Eighty one women were in case group and 82 in control group. Ovarian response variables were not significantly different between two groups but there was a significant relation between passive smoking and fertilization (RR= 1.18, 95% CI: 1.07-1.31). However pregnancy rate was not significantly different between two groups. Moreover there were no significant differences between heavy and light smokers in ovarian response outcomes.
Conclusion: This study showed no correlation between ovarian response parameters and passive smoking in women underwent ART cycles, whereas fertilization rate is significantly lower in this group compared to control group. It may be related to sperm quality than oocytes. Assessment of nicotin in follicular fluid and cytogenetic evaluation of embryo before transfer are recommended for more information and confirmation.