Nicotine and IVF

[FurryWhiskers]

I don't know if this is a question that can be answered here, but it's worth a shot.

One of the reasons I decided to try quitting cigs again was because me and my better half have been referred for IVF and they simply won't do it on the NHS if you are a smoker. Apparently they test you for it ... I'm happy with that, I find that vaping is the perfect replacement for it and I don't even crave a cigarette. No issues there, I haven't been cheating lol.

Anyway, we've been on the waiting list for ages and I know I should've pulled my finger out and quit sooner, but today we've been told that we've got our first appointment at the IVF clinic in little over three weeks (7th April to be precise) and my Mrs is now on my back about getting on the 0mg nicotine liquids. I currently use 3mg Nic juice as I am a sub-ohmer.

Can anyone can shed some light on whether vaping nicotine based juice will be a problem with the IVF clinic? I assumed they test for carbon monoxide in the blood which would be an obvious indicator of combustion (which you obviously wouldn't have with vaping) so i thought I was safe, but she tells me now that someone suggested that it's not just a CO2 test and that I should be off the vaping well before the appointment ... nooooo!

I will go down to 0mg Nic if I have to, but I really don't want to yet as I don't think I am ready (only quit 9 weeks ago)

Any help and advice is greatly appreciated

 

[fyslexic ducker]

not sure if this is any help to you but i found this
http://allaboute-cigarettes.proboards.com/thread/35026
Reply #8
In view of our doctor and our ivf treatment we both did the carbondioxide test and we both actually blew lower than a non smoker lol. We were then classed as non smokers by our doctor and ivf consultant.

hope that is of some use to you,but i'd still look into it more for peace of mind,goodluck

 

[stewbacca]

I work in pharmacy, but I'm mental health and know very little about IVF etc, so I'd urge you to fact check everything I'm about to tell you.

As I understand it, it'll be a carbon monoxide test. I'm not aware of a nicotine test, but it may just be that they don't do it in the hospital I work in.

Usually, (not always, but usually) it's not the nicotine from smoking that effects how drugs work in the body, it's all the other shite that's in smoke. As an example an antipsychotic we use a lot, clozapine, it's absorption is affected by the hydrocarbons in smoke so smokers require a higher dose, generally, than non smokers. When a clozapine patient stops smoking we take a level of how much of the drug is in their system and expect this level to increase. We therefore recommend to the doctors that they reduce the dose so that the patient doesn't experience either symptoms of over dose or increased side effects. The same goes for several other drugs. Best thing to do is if you can find out what IVF drugs are to be taken and have a look at medicines.org.uk search for the drug and look for the SPC (specific product characteristics) which will tell you what drugs/substances the drug may interact with.

Hope this helps in some way. Sorry I can't be more specific, but it's not my area of expertise and I don't want to give you duff information.

 

[fyslexic ducker]

good call @stewbacca

 

[FurryWhiskers]

Thanks for your replies ... good advice. I thought it was just the carbon monoxide test that they can do so that's good to know from someone in the 'business', so to speak. I will carry on Googling, but thank you both very much for your prompt responses

 

[johnnylager]

It may be a cotinine urine test, see here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotinine

 

[drlnhs]

It's usually carboxyhaemoglobin that is measured (blood test) and in non-smokers should be < 3%. Passive smoking will almost double the carboxyhaemoglobin hence it catches out the still smoking partner...(and I am a doctor though not a fertility specialist but my lab measures carboxyhaemoglobin because its routinely available in blood gas machines so costs nothing extra)

 

[FurryWhiskers]

@johnnylager Thanks for that ... interesting article about cotinine. I've never heard of it before but I mentioned it to the other half and she said she seen something online about it the other day - I forgot she knows everything ha ha.

It states "Use of nicotine replacement therapy will result in a positive test for cotinine. Therefore, the presence of cotinine is not a conclusive indication of tobacco use." ... if this is the test they carry out then I guess the issue will be convincing the staff at the hospital that I am not actually smoking. Perhaps though they don't use this test because of the false positives it can return in light of the number of people using nicotine replacement therapy, whether it's an inhaler (vapouriser), patches, lozenges or something else... unless of course, it is the nicotine that is the problem, not the other chemicals found in cigarettes.

@drlnhs Very interesting too ... my Mrs is now concerned about being around her Mam and sister when they are smoking lol. If I asked nicely, would my GP carry out the same test(s) they would use in the IVF clinic so I might know for sure whether I will test positive or not?

 

[drlnhs]

@drlnhs Very interesting too ... my Mrs is now concerned about being around her Mam and sister when they are smoking lol. If I asked nicely, would my GP carry out the same test(s) they would use in the IVF clinic so I might know for sure whether I will test positive or not?[/QUOTE]

You can always ask...if you have a good relationship with your GP they might do you the favour (primary care is financially stretched in most sectors). Brief exposure unlikely to affect your carboxyhaemoglobin, prolonged exposure (hours in a smoke filled room for days on end) will

 

[Cristian2281]

My wife and I were both referred for IVF, of I remember correctly we both used to vape at that time, my wife stopped shortly after that. They test for carbon monoxide, at the time they tested only my wife, she had to blow in a machine and she passed.
Edit: she was using a subox at the time, about 3ml of 12mg liquid a day, so if you are a more heavy user you may have to lower your usage, but again I have no idea if heavy vaping will affect your tests.
Good luck with the treatment.