Smoking and Infertility: Multivariable Regression and Mendelian Randomization Analyses in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study

Overview

Journal Fertil Steril

Specialty Reproductive Medicine

Date 2022 May 13

PMID 35562204

Authors

Alvaro Hernaez

Robyn E Wootton

Christian M Page

Karoline H Skara

Abigail Fraser

Tormod Rogne

Per Magnus

Pal R Njolstad

Ole A Andreassen

Stephen Burgess

Deborah A Lawlor

Maria Christine Magnus

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between smoking and infertility.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Nationwide cohort.

Patients: 28,606 women and 27,096 men with questionnaire and genotype information from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study.

Intervention: Self-reported information on smoking (having ever smoked [both sexes], age at initiation [women only], cessation [women only], and cigarettes/week in current smokers [both sexes]) was gathered. Genetically predetermined levels or likelihood of presenting these traits were estimated for Mendelian randomization.

Main Outcome Measure: Infertility (time-to-pregnancy ≥12 months).

Results: Having ever smoked was unrelated to infertility in women or men. Higher smoking intensity in women was associated with greater infertility odds (+1 standard deviation [SD, 48 cigarettes/week]: odds ratio [OR] 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.28; OR 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.21), also after adjusting for the partner's tobacco use. Later smoking initiation (+1 SD [3.2 years]: OR 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99; OR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.95) and smoking cessation (vs. not quitting: OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.91; OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.93) were linked to decreased infertility in women. Nevertheless, Mendelian randomization results were not directionally consistent for smoking intensity and cessation and were estimated imprecisely in the 2-sample approach. In men, greater smoking intensity was not robustly associated with infertility in multivariable regression and Mendelian randomization.

Conclusions: We did not find robust evidence of an effect of smoking on infertility. This may be due to a true lack of effect, weak genetic instruments, or other kinds of confounding.

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