Study: Pregnancy reduces cravings for smoking even before it’s discovered

A recent study showed that pregnant women reduced the number of cigarettes they smoked daily even without knowing they were pregnant

We all know that smoking during pregnancy can lead to a number of complications for both mother and baby. Therefore, this is the main motivation for women who have become pregnant to quit smoking. But, according to a study published in the journal Addiction Biology, that’s not the only reason to quit the habit while pregnant.

Researchers observed that pregnant smokers reduced their habit to one cigarette a day before they were even aware of their pregnancy. In the month following the discovery, the women cut back on their habit by another four cigarettes a day. “Research therefore suggests that the biological processes of pregnancy may decrease the desire to smoke before pregnant women are even aware of pregnancy,” says Dr. Fernando Prado, human reproduction specialist, member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and clinical director of Neo Vita.

I study

In the study, the scientists studied the habits of 416 women who smoked before becoming pregnant. The objective was to estimate changes in the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Participants were interviewed at 16 weeks of pregnancy, as well as provided urine samples so the researchers could confirm their answers.

On average, they smoked about 10 cigarettes a day before conception. Between conception and the date they learned they were pregnant, the women reduced their habit to one cigarette a day. In the month following the pregnancy confirmation, the average daily number of cigarettes smoked increased from nine to five. Importantly, this pattern was observed regardless of pregnancy planning or complete smoking cessation during pregnancy.

The researchers believe the reduction is likely associated with pregnancy hormones, particularly human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This is because the sharpest drop in smoking was observed just when levels of this hormone typically peak, between weeks 5 and 10 of pregnancy.

“HCG is a hormone produced by the placenta in the early stages of pregnancy. It is related to morning sickness, nausea and vomiting that commonly occur during pregnancy,” explains Dr. Fernando. The researchers also reported that women who didn’t quit smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy, when HCG levels are high, are unlikely to quit before giving birth. The result was the same whether assisted by drugs or financial incentives.

Pregnancy and cigarette

The differential of the study is to focus on the impact of pregnancy on smoking, and not vice versa, as the vast majority of studies do. In general, studies focus on the impact of smoking during pregnancy, as well as on the health of the woman and the baby.

“Although the reduction in smoking during pregnancy is well established, no other study has been able to determine precisely when this reduction occurs and, more importantly, if it occurs even before the woman is aware of the pregnancy,” says the doctor .

Furthermore, prior to the survey, it was understood that the only factor driving smokers to give up cigarettes was the desire to protect the child. But now we can see that smoking frequency starts to decline before women even suspect they are pregnant, despite the fact that the discovery of pregnancy is a major event in this decline.

Cigarettes and women’s health

The next step of the researchers is to indicate precisely which processes are involved in this decrease in the daily number of cigarettes smoked by pregnant women. “If the biological processes of early pregnancy are indeed involved in smoking reduction, as the study assures, precisely identifying them may contribute to the development of new smoking cessation drugs, which can also help women who are trying to become pregnant, since that the habit impairs fertility,” emphasizes Dr. Fernando Prado.

“Cigarettes are one of the main causes of infertility, as the toxic components present in the product seriously worsen reproductive quality. In women, smoking alters the motility of the eyelashes in the uterine tubes, hindering fertilization. It is also able to promote deterioration .eggs, aging them up to ten years and accelerating the onset of menopause, especially harmful today, when women want to get pregnant later and later”, she concludes.

+The best content in your email for free. Choose your favorite Terra newsletter. Click here!

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.