Maternal Exposure to Second-hand Smoke and Super Ovulation Outcome for Assisted Reproduction

Background: The effect of smoking cigarettes is followed by diverse effects on ovaries and developing follicles but the effect of passive smoking on ovarian function is unknown. On the other hand, the ovarian response to induction is a very important step in assisted reproduction. The aim of this study is to compare ovarian response in passive smokers and non-passive smokers in an assisted reproductive program. Materials and Methods: In a cohort study at the Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center, there were 72 women in the passive smoker group and 72 women in the non-passive smoker group who underwent an assisted reproductive technology (ART) program. The follicle number at administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), number of gonadotropin ampoules and duration of super ovulation induction were compared. Results: Statistical analyses indicated that the number of mature follicles in the passive smoker group was not different from the control group; but the number of unresponsive cycles to super ovulation in the passive smoker group (33.3%) was significantly higher than the control group (12.5%). Duration of induction and number of gonadotropin ampoules were not different between the two groups. Conclusion: The results of this study show that exposure to second-hand smoke increases the chance of unresponsiveness to ovulation induction. This condition may be due to the result of decline in ovarian reserve in second-hand smokers. The duration of induction and number of gonadotropin ampules is similar in the two groups. Furthermore, the results show that exposure to cigarette smoke does not clinically impact women with good ovarian reserve.