Quantcast

Nicotine Hurts Sperm, Reduces Fertility Potential

Fertility researchers have shown that nicotine and cotinine, a substance produced by nicotine’s breakdown, cause sperm to change in ways that could reduce fertility potential. In results presented at the 2002 annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, lead researcher Lani Burkman, Ph.D., reported that in laboratory experiments these chemicals, singly and in combination, decreased the capacity of sperm to perform functions necessary to fertilize a human egg.

Research reveals a cellular basis for a male biological clock

Researchers have discovered a cellular basis for what many have long suspected: Men, as well as women, have a reproductive clock that ticks down with age. A recent study revealed that sperm in men older than 35 showed more DNA damage than that of men in the younger age group. In addition, the older men’s bodies appeared less efficient at eliminating the damaged cells, which could pass along problems to offspring