Women should stop vaping if they hope to get pregnant, according to a study that suggests it can affect fertility.
In the first research to demonstrate a link between fertility prospects and electronic cigarettes across a large population, analysis of blood samples from 8,340 women revealed that people who vaped or smoked tobacco had lower levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) had, which indicates how many eggs women left in their ovaries.
The study found that across all age groups, AMH levels were lower in people who vaped than non-vapers.
Nearly a quarter of those trying to conceive said they vaped regularly or sometimes, according to the report by women’s health firm Hertility based on data from 325,000 women, mostly in their 20s and 30s. The study was conducted in the United Kingdom and was based on analysis of anonymous data.
The study’s author, Dr Helen O’Neill, a lecturer in reproductive and molecular genetics at University College London and the chief executive of Hertility, said women should be advised to stop the habit to reduce their chances of conceiving. don’t get too frustrated.
She said women planning to become pregnant should be given clear guidance of “no drinking, no vaping, no smoking, no drugs,” the Times reported.
O’Neill said: “This is the first evidence to show an association between fertility and vaping in a large population. It shows that AMH is suppressed in vapers compared to non-vapers, in a similar way to what has already been has been shown in smokers.AMH is a hormone used to determine ovarian [egg] reserve, and therefore fertility.”
The report, which analyzed the lifestyle habits of women in the months leading up to pregnancy, also found that 7% admitted to taking recreational drugs and 40% said they consumed alcohol weekly.
O’Neill said: “Trying to drink in moderation can be a slippery slope when it comes to volumes and intake of wine or alcohol in a week. The best advice is to stop, instead of cutting back or trying in moderation.”
There is growing concern about increasing nicotine addiction in young children. Last month, the government passed a law to ban smoking for anyone born after 2009, and it also introduces new restrictions on vapes, including banning the sale and supply of disposable vapes under environmental law.
Earlier this week a study proposed that girls aged 13 and 15 in Great Britain drink, smoke and vape more than boys. The World Health Organisation’s research in 44 countries found that two fifths of girls in England and Scotland had vaped by age 15 – a higher percentage than in other countries such as France, Germany and Spain.
Researchers also found that 30% of 15-year-old girls and 17% of 15-year-old boys in England had vaped in the past 30 days, which was higher than children in several other countries, including Ireland, Canada and Spain.
The study found girls were 15 more likely to use a vape than the average for all 44 countries studied, with vaping now overtaking smoking.
Last week, a report said that children addicted to vaping should be given nicotine patches or gum to help them break the habit. Public Health Wales, one of the organizations that make up NHS Wales, said vaping should be seen as a “dependency issue” rather than a deliberate act of misconduct, with young people needing support to quit.
