Elsevier

Fertility and Sterility

Volume 74, Issue 4, October 2000, Pages 725-733
Fertility and Sterility

Reproductive endocrinology
Delayed conception and active and passive smoking

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(00)01501-6Get rights and content
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Abstract

Objective: To determine whether passive as well as active smoking by women or smoking by men is associated with delayed conception, after adjustment for confounding factors.

Design: Population study of couples expecting a baby. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with delayed conception.

Setting: The Avon Health Authority area, United Kingdom.

Patient(s): All couples expected to deliver between April 1991 and December 1992.

Intervention(s): Questionnaires administered early in pregnancy.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Time taken to conceive, categorized as <6 months, 6–11 months, 1–3 years, and >3 years.

Result(s): After correction for confounding factors, delayed conception was statistically significantly associated with both active smoking by the woman (odds ratio [OR] 1.23 [95% CI 0.98–1.49] for > 6 months and 1.54 [95% CI 1.19–2.01] for >12 months) and her exposure to passive smoking (OR 1.17 [95% CI 1.02–1.37] and 1.14 [95% CI 0.92–1.42]) compared with women with no exposure to tobacco smoke (referent). Heavy smoking by men was independently associated with delayed conception. In active smokers, the effect increased with the number of cigarettes.

Conclusion(s): Smoking by men and passive and active smoking by women are associated with delayed conception.

Keywords

Fecundity
time to conception
smoking
logistic regression

Cited by (0)

The study was supported by a Realizing Our Potential Award (ROPA) grant from the Medical Research Council. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood is supported by the Departments of Health and of the Environment, the Medical Research Council, and British Gas and other commercial companies.