Tobacco
Combustion, cadmium, carbon monoxide
Evidence level : Established LifestyleMechanism : Environmental / physical burden
🟢 A link with fertility is documented by numerous, converging human studies, endorsed by health authorities.
- Where it's found
- Cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, shisha, secondhand smoke at home.
- Suspected mechanism
- Reduced ovarian reserve and accelerated ovarian aging in women; altered sperm count, motility, and DNA in men.
- Suggested alternative
- This is the most cost-effective lever. Free support is available (Tabac info service, 39 89 in France).
- Source
- WHO; ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology), lifestyle and fertility guidelines.
Map your everyday exposures in about ten minutes.
Take the questionnaireRelated factors
Including a factor does not mean it causes infertility: it is simply worth monitoring, depending on its level of evidence.
Content last updated: September 14, 2026