Cadmium accumulation in follicular fluid of women in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer is higher in smokers.

OBJECTIVE

To assess cadmium, a heavy metal in cigarette tobacco, in follicular fluid (FF) of women in IVF-ET, who smoke.

DESIGN

Controlled clinical study.

SETTING

Infertile patients in a hospital IVF-ET program.

PATIENTS: Fifty-one women selected in groups according to smoking habits: nonsmokers (n = 10), passive smokers (n = 17), light smokers (< 15 cigarettes per day, n = 19), and heavy smokers (> or = 15 cigarettes per day, n = 5).

INTERVENTIONS: Ovarian hyperstimulation with GnRH agonist.

RESULTS

The mean +/- SEM level of FF cadmium was higher in smokers (7.93 +/- 0.16 ng/mL) than in nonsmokers (6.73 +/- 0.31 ng/mL), and with a dose-effect of smoking. The individual levels in passive, light, and heavy smoking women also were higher than in nonsmoking women.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite lack of vascularization of the follicle, cadmium accumulation was detectable in FF. Cadmium also could accumulate in oocytes of smokers; it does so, in a dose-dependent manner, in oocytes of cadmium-treated rats. Access to cadmium and other contaminants of cigarette smoke in FF may compromise the quality of oocytes, becoming a risk factor.