Summary
Introduction:
This document provides an overview of the potential impact of e-cigarettes on female and male reproductive health. The text discusses the composition of e-cigarettes, their prevalence and usage, and the effects of their toxins on reproduction. It also compares e-cigarettes to conventional cigarettes and examines the evidence regarding the impact of conventional cigarette smoking on reproduction and assisted reproductive technology (aRT) outcomes.
Key Points:
* E-cigarettes contain various toxins, including nicotine, glycols, particles, metals, tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNas), carbonyls, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Pahs).
* E-cigarette prevalence has dropped due to recent licensure and taxation, but 85% of adults aged 18-29 had tried vaping in 2018.
* E-cigarette usage is perceived differently between age groups, with adolescents and young adults considering it fashionable and older users using it as an aid for conventional cigarette smoking cessation.
* E-cigarette utilization exposes users to substances that are not without any impact on their general health.
* Conventional cigarette smoking adversely affects reproductive systems at different levels, including gamete quality and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
* Conventional cigarette cessation is highly recommended in individuals who are trying to conceive, all the more so in patients seeking fertility treatments.
* E-cigarettes vary largely from conventional cigarettes, and comprehensive analyses have shown that many of their substances have a negative impact on reproduction.
* E-cigarette exposure has been linked to disturbances in the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, altered gonadal function and semen quality, testicular inflammation, and sperm chromatin integrity issues.
Main Message:
The text suggests that caution should be taken when vaping and that more research needs to be conducted to identify the potential adverse effects of e-cigarettes on fertility. The prevalence of e-cigarette usage is alarming, and warnings should be made about the impact of vaping on reproductive health. healthcare professionals should be aware of the potential impact of e-cigarette usage on treatment outcomes and possibly on the health of their children when patients are undergoing assisted reproductive treatments.
Citation
Montjean D, Godin Pagé Mh, Bélanger MC, Benkhalifa M, Miron P. an Overview of E-Cigarette Impact on Reproductive health. Life (Basel, Switzerland). 2023;13(3). doi:10.3390/life13030827
