Is Smoking Preventing You From Becoming A Dad?

Most men will tell you that becoming a father is one of the greatest moments of their lives. Some men still aspire for that moment, but it has not transpired yet.

If you are struggling to discover the wonders of fatherhood, then you might need to reevaluate some of your choices. Certain bad habits could be to blame. Smoking is one vice that can interfere with a man’s ability to experience the joys of being a dad. You might find that women won’t even date a smoker. One woman wrote to Evan Marc Katz and said that she broke things off with an otherwise perfect guy because he smoked. Smoking could also hurt your fertility, even if you find a partner. You might want to quit smoking or at least start using a tobacco free chew.

Here are a couple of reasons that smoking could make it harder to become a father.

You Might Be Turning Away Potential Partners

Men that looked at magazines doing the latter part of the 20th century probably thought that women liked men that smoke. William Thourbly, one of the actors that portrayed the iconic Marlboro Man, helped portray smoking as a sexy and masculine endeavor. Men looking at these commercials often believed that smoking made them more appealing to the opposite sex.

That might have been true 40 or 50 years ago. Today, smoking is no longer a habit that will help you woo the woman of your dreams.

On the contrary, the majority of women find smoking to be a huge turn-off. A recent survey of 1,000 women found that 70% of them were repulsed by smoking and 56% of them said that they would not even consider dating a man that smoked.

The study didn’t break the responses down by the age of respondents. However, since smoking is more taboo among younger adults than baby boomers, it is reasonable to speculate that women in their 20s and 30s would be even more averse to dating a smoker. Since this is the age group most likely to conceive children, it is likely that the possibility of finding a romantic partner is even worse for younger men that smoke.

Why are women less likely to date a man that smokes? The biggest reason is that they don’t like the smell. The survey found that 91% of women won’t date a smoker, because the pungent smell of tobacco is off putting to them. Another major concern is the health risks associated with smoking. Around 75% of the women that took the survey cited this as another major concern.

If you smoke, then you need to be realistic about the challenges it will pose to your dating life. Your chances of finding a woman will be much higher if you kick the habit for good.

Smoking Is Probably Hurting Your Fertility

Even if you are lucky enough to find a woman that will give you a chance as a smoker, you might not be able to conceive. Regular cigarette use hurts your fertility, which significantly impairs your chances of becoming a father.

How much of an effect does smoking have on fertility rates? One study in the World Journal of Men’s Health found that smoking causes sperm concentration to drop by 23%.

Decreased sperm concentration is not the only reason that smoking hurts male fertility. It can also cause greater DNA fragmentation, which could hurt fertility as well.

Your partner is probably also more likely to be a smoker herself, because female smokers are more likely to give male smokers a chance. This means that her fertility rates are probably also going to be lower, because smoking can hinder embryo implantation and development. Female smokers also have a higher risk of having a miscarriage.

Quitting Smoking Could Make It Easier To Become A Father

Are you having a difficult time becoming a father? Whether you are single or in a relationship, smoking might be to blame.

Your chance of becoming a dad will probably increase significantly if you give up smoking. Fortunately, quitting smoking is a lot easier than you might think. Almost 60% of adults that have ever smoked have been able to successfully quit. Around 84% of people that intend to quit are able to do so.

The motivation of fatherhood or finding a relationship will make your odds of quitting smoking even higher. You just need to come up with a good smoking cessation plan. Make sure that you find a strong support network and consider using nicotine replacement therapy. If you are currently dating a woman that doesn’t like smoking, then you should make sure to let her know that you are quitting. She might be more likely to sustain the relationship if she sees that you are putting in the effort. She should also provide the support that you need.

Becoming a father is an achievable goal. Don’t let in addiction to cigarettes get in the way.