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Smoking can affect your chances of having a baby.¹

Men and women who smoke are more likely to have problems getting pregnant than people who don't smoke. Couples who smoke take longer to get pregnant and are more likely to miscarry.

Cigarette smoke damages women's ovaries so they make less estrogen. And the eggs of women who smoke are more likely to have genetic abnormalities. Women who smoke are more likely to have an early menopause than women who don't smoke.

Men who smoke heavily (one or two packs per day) are more likely to have abnormal sperm (misshapen sperm that do not move properly).

To learn more about the best way to give up smoking, see our articles on nicotine addiction.

Alcohol, cocaine, heroin and methadone can all lead to male infertility. They all affect a man's ability to get an erection and to ejaculate.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.