Smoking is undoubtedly a bad habit that is difficult to cut out of your life. It is an unhealthy habit that can not only affect your organs but it can also affect your reproductive system and cause infertility. Women who smoke 20 cigarettes a day can reduce natural fertility by over 20%. In men, smoking can lead to low sperm counts and slow sperm motility. So if you are trying to have a baby, it is a good idea to quit sooner rather than later. The longer you smoke the more damage you cause to your reproductive system.
Here are a few tips on how to quit smoking.
- Smoke less every day. If you smoke 20 cigarettes a day, you reduce your smoking habit with one cigarette a day. On day 1 smoke 19 cigarettes, day 2 reduce it by 1 to 18 cigarettes and continue until you are down to 1 a day. When you get to 1 a day, continue for another week with only the 1 cigarette a day, thereafter skip a day until you completely forget or lose the interest to smoke anymore.
- Use a nicotine patch. There are many nicotine patches on the market. Select one that resonates best with your circumstances and use it regularly. Set an alarm each morning that reminds you to put the patch on your skin.
- Use nicotine gum. This method keeps your mouth busy with the nicotine gum and soon you will forget to smoke. Be careful not to become addicted to the habit of chewing the nicotine gum too much. This should only be a temporary method until you are able to let go of smoking altogether.
- Get support from a friend or your partner. It is essential that you have support when trying to quit smoking. You will need a cheer leader, per se, that can cheer you on the bad days and encourage you to quit while reminding you why you are doing it. You are quitting in order so that you can increase your fertility.
Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t able to quit immediately. Not many people are able to achieve this, as nicotine is highly addictive. In most cases, a smoker quits smoking three times before they give up the bad habit entirely. For advice on fertility and smoking statistics, you can visit a fertility clinic that will be able to give you information tailored to your requirements.