Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke may reduce fertility and increase the risk of infertility, even among people who have never smoked.
The warning is contained in a new WHO knowledge summary released in Geneva, which reviewed current scientific evidence linking tobacco exposure to reproductive health problems in both men and women.
According to the global health agency, tobacco smoke exposure—including passive smoking—can reduce the chances of conception and negatively affect fertility outcomes.
WHO noted that infertility affects one in six people of reproductive age globally and is defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after at least 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.
The organisation said women exposed to secondhand smoke may be more likely to experience infertility and have a lower chance of becoming pregnant during each menstrual cycle.
It also cited a systematic review of studies conducted between 2000 and 2026 showing that women who smoke cigarettes face a 40 per cent higher risk of infertility compared with non-smokers.
The report further highlighted the impact of tobacco use on male reproductive health.
According to WHO, evidence from 44 studies involving more than 60,000 men linked smoking to poor sperm quality, reduced sperm movement, abnormal sperm shape, erectile dysfunction and ejaculation disorders.
The organisation also warned that tobacco use could reduce the success rate of assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), with smokers experiencing fewer pregnancies and live births following fertility treatment.
WHO noted that while research on emerging nicotine products—including e-cigarettes, waterpipes and smokeless tobacco—is still evolving, the strongest scientific evidence currently links conventional cigarette smoking to reproductive health complications.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 