The possible effects of cigarette smoking on sperm were evaluated by comparison of the quality of sperm from 103 smokers and 135 nonsmokers in a blind study. Smokers were found to possess significantly (P less than 0.001) decreased density (number) and motility of their sperm than nonsmokers. Morphologic abnormalities, particularly bicephalia, although prevalent among individual smokers, did not differ significantly (P greater than 0.9) when a comparison of smokers versus nonsmokers was made as a whole. Based on these observations and those of others demonstrating the presence of the mutagenic properties of smoke condensates, we suggest that decreases in sperm density and motility in cigarette smokers may be reflective of smoke condensate-induced mutagenic spermatogenital alterations.
PIP: The possible effects of cigarette smoking on sperm were investigated in a blind study involving 103 smokers and 135 nonsmokers. The quality of sperm from study subjects was assessed on the basis of density (number), motility, and morphologic abnormalities. Spermatozoa from smokers possessed significantly decreased density and motility compared with nonsmokers (p 0.001). 75% of smokers versus 26% of nonsmokers had a sperm density under 40 x 10million sperm/ml. On the other hand, morphologic abnormalities were noted in 27% of men in both groups. These results differ from those of earlier studies that found no significant differences between sperm density and motility in smokers and nonsmokers yet noted a higher percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm in smokers. It is suggested that the decreases in sperm density and motility noted in the present study may reflect smoke condensate-induced mutagenic spermatogenital alterations. It is recommended that future studies consider 1) evaluation of the functional competency of spermatozoa from smokers, 2) whether smokers convey any genetic abnormality to their children, and 3) elimination of the possible contributory effect of the concomitant presence of a varicocele.