The Effect of Smoking on Fertility Hormones in Male Adult Smokers in South-South Nigeria

Aims: To investigate the relationship between tobacco smoking and serum concentrations of male reproductive hormones-luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and prolactin.

Study Design: The design of the study was cross sectional.

Place and Duration of Study: the Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital between October 2012 and October 2013.

Methodology: 140 male tobacco smokers and 61 male non-smokers aged between 19 and 45 years were recruited for this study. Serum testosterone, prolactin, FSH and LH was determined using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Body mass index was measured and smoking pack years calculated.

Results: The mean values for testosterone, prolactin, FSH and LH was 8.5±3.43 ng/ml; 8.9±4.65 ng/ml; 7.97±9.06 mIU/ml and 17.2±9.35 ng/ml respectively for the smokers and 12.3±4.01 ng/ml; 9.2±5.97 ng/ml; 4.3±2.57 mIU/ml and 10.8±5.18 ng/ml respectively for the non-smokers. The mean testosterone level was significantly lower (P<.0001) in the smokers compared to the controls while LH and FSH values were significantly higher (P<.0001) in the smokers compared to controls. There was however no significant difference (P = .699) in the mean levels of prolactin.

Conclusion: The risk of infertility associated with smoking may be attributed to lower levels of testosterone rather than hyperprolactinaemia. This decrease in testosterone levels may translate to a decrease in fertility as testosterone is the principal reproductive hormone in males.