Survey: Smoking harmful to reproductive health

Smoking can damage men's reproductive health, according to a survey of more than 4,000 men across China released on Thursday.

The survey showed male smokers have higher risks of all common syndromes relating to reproductive health compared with non-smokers, including difficulty in conceiving, abnormal sperm, and fetal deformity. 

Of all subjects surveyed, 16.6 percent had abnormal semen, such as a lower concentration of sperm, but more than 32 percent of smokers had the condition, the survey showed. 

The chances of a deformed fetus for non-smoker males was 1.1 percent, but for smokers it was 2.5 percent, the survey showed. 

The survey covered 4,364 male patients seeking treatment at andrology departments in 25 hospitals and clinics in 16 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong province. It was launched by China Sexology Association, and conducted by Peking University Third Hospital between August and October.