smoking and ttc

[victoria401]

Hi. Me and DH have been ttc for 14 months with no luck. I have been to the docs for help but she said we can't get couple assistance until we have been trying for 2 years. Also, she asked about our smoking and drinking habits etc. DH is a smoker. She said he needs to have proof that he has been a non smoker for 6 months before we can get help also. But how is he supposed to get proof?! He had his last "proper" cig on Xmas eve but has been using e-cigs since then. He is refusing to quit quit saying these e-cigs are harmless and anyway there is no proof that smoking damages sperm production anyway. But that's not what the nhs needs us to do and its causing lots of arguments between us at the moment. He says he's comitted to making a baby but this to me is not total commitment.

I've got another appointment with the docs on Wednesday to see if I can get some tests done to see if its me that's the problem. But I'm just thinking what's the point as I think its most likey him. He's asthmatic and shouldn't be smoking anyway, eats unhealthy and doesn't do any exercise. Even after "quitting" normal fags he's still had 2 chest infections this year already. Grrrrrrrrr I'm just feeling bitter and twisted!

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Well done to your DH! If he's using ecigs he's not a smoker he's a vaper. He's still taking in nicotine but none of the several thousand more harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke.

I don't know anything about the effects of nicotine itself on sperm production though - would the doctor be happy if he was using NRT? If so, he's fine on an ecig.

In terms of proof, there are I believe two types of test for smoking - one measures CO levels - if he hasn't smoked for a month these should be normal by now. The other measures nicotine levels - the nicotine from the ecig would show up on these, same as if he was using patches or gum. I assume 6 months of regular tests would constitute proof - he will need to ask the doctor. I believe you can get tested at pharmacies.

Stopping smoking is quite a shock to the body and many people find they get lots of coughs, colds and sometimes chest infections in the early weeks. The ecig won't be bad for his asthma - most people who make the switch find they need to use their inhalers less.

Best of luck, I hope you have good news soon

[Lauren83]

My DP was a heavy smoker, he changed to e cigs a year before ivf then came off the e cigs 3 months before, it takes 3 months to produce sperm so wanted to give us the best shot and read too much about nicotine affecting fertilisation, we both took supplements, cut out caffeine, went the gym and are better, I didn't want to risk looking back and thinking we didn't give it out best shot

Good luck x

[LD1980]

Me and my husband are on the waiting list for IVF in Glasgow and should get put date around May/June 2016. My husband smokes so needs to give up asap. He says he will just use E-Cigs but are they classed as smoking? Bit frustrated as this will rob be out only chance and he could try giving up altogether . Any advice would be great