Electronic Cigarettes and Fecundability: Results From a Prospective Preconception Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Toxicology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) aerosol shares toxicants with combustible cigarettes.
• Limited research exists on e-cigarette impact on fecundability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association between e-cigarette use and fecundability.
• To examine this association based on combustible cigarette smoking history.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study of 4,586 North American women (aged 21-45) from 2017-2020.
• Web-based questionnaires collected data on e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use.
• Fecundability ratios calculated using proportional probabilities models.

Main Results:

• 17% of women ever used e-cigarettes; 4% were current users.
• Current e-cigarette use showed a slight association with reduced fecundability (FR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.67, 1.06).
• Associations for dual users and exclusive e-cigarette users were inconsistent and imprecise.

Conclusions:

• Current e-cigarette use may be associated with slightly reduced fecundability.
• The independent and joint effects with combustible cigarette smoking require further investigation due to imprecise estimates.