ABSTRACT
Introduction: Nearly 15% couples trying to conceive areaffected by infertility, and male infertility affects nearly50% of these. Majority of the men have no apparent reasonfor infertility. Tobacco smoking and alcohol intake areavoidable factors which may affect male fertility. This studyaimed to evaluate the impact of tobacco smoking and alcoholconsumption on serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)and testosterone levels and on semen microscopy parametersin male partners of infertile couples.Material and Methods: This cross sectional descriptivestudy, included male partners of couples presenting withinfertility at a rural tertiary teaching hospital. Exposure torisk factors was recorded. Serum FSH and testosterone levelsand semen microscopy for sperm concentration, progressivemotility and morphology were evaluated.Results: In the 98 subjects, mean FSH levels, testosteronelevels, sperm concentration and sperm progressive motilitywere significantly lower in smokers (P=0.001, 0.002, 0.005,0.003 respectively). Same parameters were significantly lowerin alcoholics (P<0.001). Smokers had significantly higherodds of abnormal testosterone levels. Alcohol consumershad significantly higher odds of low FSH levels, abnormaltestosterone levels, oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia.Conclusions: Smoking and alcoholism may be significantcontributors to male infertility. More efforts to inform theyouth about effects of smoking and alcoholism on fertility arerequired.