International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Mothers who smoke early on in their pregnancy affect the development of sperm cells, which could lead to their unborn sons being infertile, a new study has revealed.

Scientists from the University Hospital of Copenhagen in Denmark found that the number of immature reproductive cells in male embryos was reduced dramatically when exposed to tobacco.

In a small-scale study, researchers looked at 24 embryonic testes from legally aborted babies aged between 37 and 68 days old.

The embryos from smokers contained less than half as many immature cells that become sperm as those from non-smokers.

Earlier this year, researchers at Queen's Medical Research Institute in Edinburgh, UK, found that women who smoke during pregnancy could lower their son's sperm count, which is sometimes irreversible and could lead to infertility later in life.

Professor Richard Sharpe, one of the researchers, said more young men across Europe are now experiencing low sperm counts, which is a "cause for concern", especially because of the trend of having children later in life.

Posted by Alexandra George