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According to a new study, vaping in men may reduce sperm count, sap libido and shrink testicles. Don’t let your fertility go up in smoke!
Is vaping better than smoking? Beyond this redundant debate, a recent study should be of particular interest to male vapers. According to a Turkish test conducted on rats, exposure to electronic cigarette smoke would have, like cigarette smoke, significant effects on the sperm count but also the very size of the testicles. Still want to smoke?
The e-cigarette does not prevent the harmful effects of nicotine
Researchers from Cumhuriyet University in Sivas looked at three groups of rats:
- One exposed to traditional cigarette smoke from Winston brand cigarettes;
- Another vape from a Joyetech eGo Aio 1500mAh vape;
- A third group, the control group, in which the rats were not exposed to any smoke.
The researchers checked the rats’ urine levels for a substance called cotinine, which is a byproduct of nicotine metabolism in the body. They measured changes in sperm count, as well as the size of their testicles, using a measure known as the gonadosomatic index (GSI).
Results :
- Rats exposed to traditional cigarette smoke had a sperm count of around 89 million sperm/ml, compared to 98.5 million per milliliter for the control group;
- But the rats exposed to e-cigarette vapor also had lower than normal sperm counts with 95.1 million sperm per millilitre;
- Rats exposed to cigarette smoke had smaller and lighter testicles than e-cigarette and unexposed groups, as well as lower numbers of swimming-capable sperm;
- Five of eight rats exposed to e-cigarette smoke also showed structural changes in the (smaller) testicles when examined under a microscope.
The added flavors would harm fertility
The facts are not new: nicotine has long been linked to decreased sperm count and low sperm density. Heavy smokers have also been shown to have lower sperm motility, another way of describing the ability of sperm to travel through the female reproductive tract in search of an egg to fertilize. But this study specifies that vaping is not without risks on male fertility, as one might think.
The authors state: “It should be considered that even if the liquid [e-cigarette] has been shown to be harmless in smoking cessation studies, it may increase oxidative stress and cause morphological changes in the testis.”
Additionally, there are also concerns today that the toxic chemicals used to give liquids their fruity or minty flavor could damage sperm production and their ability to move. Here is another reason to be wary of the electronic cigarette! Human studies are now awaited.
Since 2010, scientists have uncovered a host of health risks associated with vaping that go beyond nicotine addiction, ranging from high blood pressure, asthma, other respiratory problems to an increased risk heart attack and acute lung injury. The electronic cigarette remains much less harmful than the classic cigarette, but it is nevertheless not harmless. It can be offered as part of withdrawal but its use for non-smokers is to be avoided.
Quitting vaping is possible!
Do you want to avoid the loss of fertility or the shrinkage of the testicles (we understand you)? You can quit smoking and quit vaping. According to the Tabacstop.be website, gradual nicotine withdrawal is also possible with electronic cigarettes. It consists of
- Gradually reduce the substance and dosage used day by day to avoid physical withdrawal symptoms;
- Use a flavor you don’t like to curb your craving;
- Extend the interval between two e-cigarettes;
- Use a nicotine substitute if necessary to hold, but orally (and not by inhaler);
- Consult a professional for help with this step.