When it comes to smoking and pregnancy, it’s understood that smoking has damaging effects on fertility and reproductive health. There is not as much dialogue, however, around vaping.
This can be accredited to a number of things–vaping was invented relatively recently, making the long term impact on health yet to be understood, and particularly the impact on reproductive health. Vaping and e-cigarettes have also been positioned as smoking cessation tools, and while quitting smoking is advised widely for those who are pregnant or who hope to become pregnant, vapes still deliver high levels of nicotine and other additives that may not be safe.
No matter where you’re at, if you’re expecting, trying, or just curious, we’re here to be a resource–particularly if you’re looking to quit vaping, but more on that later. That said, to best understand what options and resources are best for you, step one is always to consult your doctor.
Vaping and Sexual Health.
To better understand pregnancy and vaping, it’s useful to look at the relationship between vaping and sexual health more broadly.
Some studies report that vapes, even those that purport to be nicotine-free, contain “endocrine disruptors”, a term for substances that disrupt typical hormonal function. Like smoking, it’s been suggested that vaping can impact menstrual cycles and can be linked to decreased ovarian reserve and delayed egg production and fertilization. Vaping can also impact sperm motility, how sperm moves and swims, and a study from NYU found that men ages 20-65 who vape daily are 2.4 times more likely to experience erectile dysfunction (ED) than men that have never vaped.
But before one can even consider doing the deed, vaping can present another roadblock: a decreased sex drive. A range of factors come together to inform our sex drive and how readily pleasurable sex can be, including anxiety, depression, hormone levels, and stress. That said, vaping and nicotine use are often overlooked in this arena.
Vaping, smoking, and nicotine use cause vasoconstriction (the tightening of blood vessels) and subsequently reduced blood flow. Reduced blood flow can impact arousal in a variety of ways–like erectile dysfunction and decreased lubrication. If you’ve noticed a decrease in sex drive, your vape might have something to do with it.
Vaping and Pregnancy.
If you are pregnant, the Mayo Clinic advises quitting vaping, as in addition to delivering high levels of nicotine, the liquids in vapes “contain chemicals, flavors, and other additives that might not be safe for your baby.”
Furthermore, while vapes have been understood as a smoking cessation tool, and that regular cigarette use is certainly understood to expose a baby to toxins, “nicotine exposure of any kind is harmful to a baby.”
There is still so much research to be done in this space, and while the effects of vapes on pregnancy are unknown , decades of sexual health studies on nicotine use and smoking can offer significant insight.
If you smoke or vape and become pregnant, the first step should be to discuss cessation with your doctor to decrease potential risks, and work with your doctor to craft a plan to quit that works for you.
Accessing Support While Quitting.
If you are thinking of quitting (for any number of reasons, pursuing pregnancy included) you don’t have to do it alone. Start out by telling your community–yes, your doctor, but tell your friends and loved ones too to create a sense of accountability.
Your community can also exist online–consider joining online forums of other people in the midst of their quit, and utilize digital support tools like the Jones app. Our tools are rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy and positive psychology to help you build new, long-lasting habits. Text With Jones offers 30 days of free motivational and habit building texts to support you through the first few weeks of your quitting journey, and you can sign up by texting “quitter” to +1 (385) 526-4708.
Quitting is a major lifestyle change, and whether you are doing it to prioritize your health or to simply drop the habit, know that slip ups and triggers will be a natural part of the process. Making the choice to quit is the first step, and we’re here to cheer you on for all that comes after.
The Author: Caroline Huber
Caroline is the founder and head of physical product at Jones. She tried quitting vaping countless times before founding Jones to provide the tools she needed to succeed.
