The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark global warning linking tobacco use to a massive surge in reproductive failure, revealing that smoking drastically reduces the chances of conceiving for both men and women. In a comprehensive knowledge summary published on its website, the global health agency stated that tobacco use is heavily tied to female infertility, severe sperm damage, and reduced success in medical fertility treatments.

The warning comes at a critical time as the agency reveals that one in six people of reproductive age worldwide will experience infertility at some point in their lifetime. The WHO officially defines this crisis as the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.

Data from a massive systematic review of global health studies conducted between 2000 and 2026 shows that women who currently smoke face a 40 per cent higher risk of infertility than non-smokers. However, the agency offered a strong glimmer of hope by highlighting evidence that quitting makes a significant difference. Women who had smoked in the past but successfully quit had a 25 per cent lower risk of infertility compared to those who continued to smoke.

The agency stressed that reproductive struggles should not be viewed solely as a women’s health issue, pointing to devastating impacts on male anatomy. A recent review of 44 studies involving more than 60,000 men found that tobacco smoking was directly associated with reproductive dysfunction.

According to the data, men who smoke are significantly more likely to experience erectile dysfunction and ejaculation problems. Furthermore, the habit leads to severe semen abnormalities, including a complete absence of sperm, poor sperm motility, and abnormally shaped sperm.

The potential damage of tobacco use extends heavily into clinical settings for couples seeking medical intervention to conceive. Earlier research involving 21 studies found that cigarette smoking drastically reduces pregnancies and live births following assisted reproduction, revealing that the chances of successful IVF outcomes are roughly halved by smoking.

The agency also warned that innocent bystanders face severe reproductive risks through passive exposure. Women who do not smoke themselves, but are regularly exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke, face a much higher risk of infertility and a lower chance of conceiving during each month they try.

While the evidence remains strongest for traditional cigarettes, the WHO extended its warning to newer nicotine items like e-cigarettes, vapes, waterpipes, and smokeless tobacco. The agency recommended that healthcare providers consistently offer brief quitting advice to all tobacco users and actively counsel couples planning a pregnancy about these reproductive risks.