Second-Hand Smoke Related To Pregnancy Issues
A new study shows that women who have been around smokers may have more difficulty getting pregnant than those who have not.Â
Previous studies have shown that pregnancy complications are common for women who smoke during pregnancy, but less is known about the dangers second-hand smoke presents to women who may potentially become pregnant.
In a new study, scientists found that women who had been raised in smoking households were more likely to report having difficulties becoming pregnant, meaning they had to try for more than 1 year.
The research team analyzed surveys from nearly 4,800 women who’d visited the University of Rochester’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute between 1982 and 1998 for a health screening, and had been pregnant at least once.
The study showed that women who had been exposed to second-hand smoke during childhood and into adulthood were 39 percent more likely to suffer a miscarriage, and were 68 percent more likely to have problems becoming pregnant.
"These statistics are breathtaking and certainly (point) to yet another danger of second-hand smoke exposure," said Luke J. Peppone, lead researcher from the University of Rochester, New York.
"We all know that cigarettes and second hand smoke are dangerous," he said. "Breathing the smoke has lasting effects, especially for women when they’re ready for children."
Peppone’s research appeared in the December 5 online issue of the journal Tobacco Control.
The research team found that 11 percent of the women had difficulties becoming pregnant, while one third of the women suffered a miscarriage.
The risk of these problems was tied to the number of hours per day that a woman was exposed to second-hand smoke.
According to Peppone and his research team, second-hand smoke contains toxins that could harm cells genetic material, interfere with conception, raise the risk of miscarriage, or hinder hormones needed for a successful pregnancy.
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