Gestational Women's Perceptions About the Harms of Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use During Pregnancy

Tobacco or marijuana use and infertility: a committee opinion

In the United States, approximately 21% of adults report some form of tobacco use, although 18% report marijuana use. Although the negative impact of tobacco use in pregnancy is well documented, the impact of tobacco and marijuana on fertility and reproduction is less clear. This committee opinion reviews the potential deleterious effects of tobacco, nicotine, and marijuana use on conception, ovarian follicular dynamics, sperm parameters, gamete mutations, early pregnancy, and assisted reproductive technology outcomes. It also reviews the current status of tobacco smoking cessation strategies. This document replaces the 2018 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Practice Committee document entitled Smoking and Infertility: a committee opinion (Fertil Steril 2018).

In Utero Exposure to Maternal Electronic Nicotine Delivery System use Demonstrate Alterations to Craniofacial Development

OBJECTIVE

Develop a model for the study of Electronic Nicotine Device (ENDS) exposure on craniofacial development.

DESIGN

Experimental preclinical design followed as pregnant murine dams were randomized and exposed to filtered air exposure, carrier exposure consisting of 50% volume of propylene glycol and vegetable glycine (ENDS Carrier) respectively, or carrier exposure with 20 mg/ml of nicotine added to the liquid vaporizer (ENDS carrier with nicotine).

SETTING

Preclinical murine model exposure using the SciReq exposure system.

PARTICIPANTS

C57BL6 adult 8 week old female pregnant mice and exposed in utero litters.

INTERVENTIONS

Exposure to control filtered air, ENDS carrier or ENDS carrier with nicotine added throughout gestation at 1 puff/minute, 4 h/day, five days a week.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cephalometric measures of post-natal day 15 pups born as exposed litters.

RESULTS

Data suggests alterations to several facial morphology parameters in the developing offspring, suggesting electronic nicotine device systems may alter facial growth if used during pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Future research should concentrate on varied formulations and exposure regimens of ENDS to determine timing windows of exposures and ENDS formulations that may be harmful to craniofacial development.

E-cigarette use during pregnancy and its association with adverse birth outcomes in the US

The popularity of e-cigarette use among young adults is a growing concern. However, little is known about factors associated with e-cigarette use in pregnant women and birth outcomes. In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the influence of several factors on behavioral changes in e-cigarette use before and during pregnancy, and assessed the association between e-cigarette use and subsequent birth outcomes among pregnant women. The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, a government-sponsored national longitudinal study based in the US, Waves 1 through 4 (2013-2018) were used. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to estimate behavioral changes in e-cigarette use during pregnancy and subsequent influence on high-risk birth (e.g., preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, etc.) and fetal death. Although pregnant women who quit vaping before pregnancy (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.54-2.40) or had any use during pregnancy (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.38-3.73) showed non-differential risk of having a high-risk birth in comparison to women who did not initiate vaping, we observed that the usage of mint/menthol flavor was correlated with higher risk of fetus death (OR = 3.27, 95% CI 1.17-9.19). Healthcare providers should encourage e-cigarette users to quit prior to and during early pregnancy.

The Understanding of Maternal Smoking among Women who were Smoking or had Quit Smoking during Pregnancy

Background

Maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy is associated with adverse health effects for the woman, fetus, and child, including such serious effects as preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and neonatal and sudden infant death. Smoking cessation during pregnancy reduces health risks.

Purpose

In order to support pregnant women to quit smoking, it is essential to know determinants of quitting smoking in pregnancy. The purpose of this research was to examine women's understanding of maternal smoking, in terms of their beliefs, in relation to quitting smoking during pregnancy.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional survey with anonymous questionnaires. The sample consisted of 161 pregnant and postnatal women who were continuing or had continued to smoke during pregnancy or had quit smoking during pregnancy. Logistic regression was used to determine the impact of women's understanding of maternal smoking on quitting smoking in pregnancy.

Results

A large majority of the women had low to moderate understanding of maternal smoking. Those with higher levels of understanding were more likely to quit smoking during pregnancy than were those with a low level of understanding. Not having children prior to the current pregnancy or childbirth also increased the likelihood of quitting smoking during pregnancy while being without a partner combined with having a longer duration of smoking decreased the likelihood of quitting smoking during pregnancy.

Conclusion

As a modifiable factor, pregnant women's understanding of maternal smoking can be readily targeted with informational interventions in an effort to help them quit smoking.

Cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual use during the third trimester of pregnancy in a national sample of heterosexual and sexual minority women

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Research investigating e-cigarettes/e-products and dual use with cigarettes among pregnant sexual minority individuals in the United States is lacking. This study addresses this gap using a national sample.

METHODS

Two waves of national panel data (2015-2018) from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study were used. The sample included 1842 women, 237 identified as sexual minorities (n = 17 lesbian, n = 177 bisexual, n = 43 something else), who indicated pregnancy during the past 12 months at Waves 3 or 4. Covariates included race, ethnicity, past-year income, and education. Cigarette, e-cigarette, or dual use was examined during the last trimester.

RESULTS

Sexual minorities had higher adjusted odds of cigarette use during their last trimester of pregnancy relative to heterosexual women (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08, 2.23). Bisexual women had higher odds of smoking cigarettes during their third trimester compared with heterosexual women (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.21, 2.72). Lesbian women were more likely to use e-cigarettes/e-products (AOR = 9.15, 95% CI = 2.29, 36.5) and indicate dual use (AOR = 6.00, 95% CI = 1.43, 25.1) during their third trimester of pregnancy compared with heterosexual women.

CONCLUSION AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

Maternal health among US sexual minority women would benefit from clinicians equipped to provide accurate information and support for Food and Drug Administration-approved smoking cessation, information about e-cigarettes/e-products, and dual use. This study is the first to examine cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual use during the third trimester of pregnancy using a national sample, with specific attention to differences in sexual orientation.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Use and Pregnancy I: ENDS Use Behavior During Pregnancy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review examines Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) use behavior during pregnancy, including the prevalence of and transitions in use during pregnancy.

RECENT FINDINGS

Twenty-two papers addressed the prevalence of and/or transitions in ENDS use during pregnancy. Findings show a complex landscape of ENDS use. A minority (0.4%-7.0%) of pregnant persons use ENDS; most commonly this occurs in the form of dual use (ENDS and combustible cigarettes (CC); 75%). Many pregnant persons report using ENDS because they perceive them to be a lower-risk alternative and/or potential cessation aide for CC smoking. However, while a subset of those who use ENDS do quit all tobacco product use during pregnancy, only a small proportion switch from exclusive CC smoking to exclusive ENDS use.

SUMMARY

ENDS are a somewhat new addition to the tobacco product landscape. The perception of ENDS as a lower-risk alternative may contribute to ENDS use in pregnancy. There is insufficient evidence to support the notion that ENDS facilities the cessation of tobacco product use during pregnancy.

An examination of how e-cigarette/cigarette use during adolescence is associated with future use during the third trimester of pregnancy

Background: Adolescent e-cigarette use has increased, as has e-cigarette use during pregnancy, yet little is known about how these types of tobacco/nicotine (cigarettes/e-cigarettes) use during adolescence are associated with tobacco/nicotine use during the third trimester of pregnancy among young adults. Methods: National longitudinal data (2013-2018) from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study were used. Young adults ages 18-20 who indicated past-year pregnancy made up the analytic sample (N = 246). Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between history of past 30-day use of cigarettes/e-cigarettes during adolescence (i.e., 14-17) and later use during the third trimester of pregnancy among young women (i.e., 18-20). Results: Within the sample of young women who indicated a pregnancy during the past year, 18.9% indicated smoking cigarettes and 4.2% indicated using e-cigarettes during their last trimester. Cigarette smoking in adolescence (wave 1 or 2) was associated with cigarette use during the last trimester (aOR = 4.76, 95% CI = 1.36, 16.6); however, e-cigarette use during adolescence was not associated with either cigarette or e-cigarette use during the third trimester of pregnancy. Conclusions: Tobacco/nicotine prevention in early adolescence has implications for preventing tobacco/nicotine-related harms during pregnancy among young adults. Intervention programs and clinicians informed about various types of tobacco/nicotine are needed to address tobacco/nicotine cessation among adolescents to prevent consequences of tobacco/nicotine use during pregnancy.

Effects of E-Cigarette Exposure on Prenatal Life and Childhood Respiratory Health: A Review of Current Evidence

In the last decade, widespread use of E-cigarettes (EC) has occurred all over the world. Whereas, a large amount of evidence on harm to children from conventional cigarette exposure is available, data on health effects in this population throughout different vulnerability windows are still a matter of concern. Exposure to EC during pregnancy may compromise placental function, resulting in fetal structural abnormalities. Specifically, this may cause physio-pathologic changes in the developing lung, which in turn may impair respiratory health later in life. Furthermore, there is evidence that using EC can cause both short- and long-term respiratory problems in the pediatric population and there is great concern for future young people with nicotine addiction. The low parental perception of the risks connected to EC exposure for children increases their susceptibility to harmful effects from passive vaping. This minireview aims to summarize the current evidence focusing on: (i) prenatal effects of EC passive exposure; (ii) post-natal respiratory effects of EC exposure in youth; (iii) parental attitudes toward EC use and perception of children's health risks connected to EC exposure; and (iv) addressing gaps in our current evidence.