title: The effect of cotinine concentrations in seminal plasma and follicular fluid on the pregnancy outcomes of couples undergoing assisted reproductive techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study determined the effects of cotinine concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) and seminal plasma (SP) on the pregnancy outcome of couples using assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted as a case-control study. A total of 217 couples were included in the study. Among these couples, there were nonsmokers (66 women and 40 men), passive smokers (106 women and 54 men), and active smokers (45 women and 123 men). Demographic and smoking data were collected by questionnaire at the onset of treatment. FF and SP samples were obtained from the couples on the day of oocyte retrieval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cotinine concentrations in the FF and SP of nonsmokers were significantly lower than they were in the other groups (P = 0.001). The difference in cotinine concentrations detected in FF between women with positive pregnancy test results and women with negative pregnancy test results was statistically insignificant. It was also determined that the percentage of clinical pregnancy was lower in nonsmoker women than in passive smoker or smoker women (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we found there was no significant difference in the pregnancy outcome between nonsmoker and passive smoker or smoker women, smoking cessation should be an integral part of ARTs.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, İstinye University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Füsun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Terzioğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bensu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karahalil
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Çiğdem
authors.initials: Ç
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rukiye
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Türk
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003367:Cotinine; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
chemical_list: D003367:Cotinine
keywords: Infertility; assisted reproductive techniques; cigarette; cotinine concentrations; follicular fluid; seminal plasma