Can Vaping Cause Miscarriage?

Posted on 25 December 2023 | Updated on 27 December 2023 |

Can Vaping Cause Miscarriage?

Vaping is often seen as a safer alternative to smoking, as it does not involve combustion and tar, which are known to cause cancer and other diseases. However, vaping is not without risks, especially for pregnant women and their babies. In this article, we will explore the question: can vaping, including popular devices, cause miscarriage? We will review the current evidence and knowledge on the effects of vaping in pregnancy and provide some recommendations and tips for pregnant women who want to quit or reduce vaping. We will also discuss some of the benefits and risks of vaping for smoking cessation and how to apply the precautionary principle when there is uncertainty or insufficient evidence.

Key Takeaways

Vaping involves the inhalation and exhalation of aerosol or vapor produced by electronic cigarettes or similar devices.
Vaping is considered a potential aid for smokers looking to quit, as it delivers nicotine without the harmful byproducts of combustion and tar. However, it's not devoid of risks, particularly for expectant mothers and their infants.
There is a notable scarcity of research about the impact of vaping during pregnancy, particularly concerning miscarriage. Nevertheless, several studies have hinted at a potential connection between vaping and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage.
Vaping during pregnancy exposes both the pregnant woman and her developing baby to nicotine, various flavorings, metals, and other chemical substances. These exposures can have implications for fetal development and placental health.
Pregnant women are strongly advised to refrain from or minimize vaping as much as possible. Seeking professional guidance and support for smoking cessation and vaping reduction is essential for expectant mothers.

So, if you are thinking about kids, the information "Can vaping cause miscarriage or not?" will be valuable information.

The Risks of Smoking in Pregnancy

Smoking is one of the most harmful behaviors for pregnant women and their babies. Smoking during pregnancy can cause a variety of adverse health effects, such as low birth weight, premature delivery, stillbirth, and infant mortality. Smoking can also increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery, such as ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption, preeclampsia, and bleeding. Smoking can also affect the long-term health and development of the child by increasing the risk of asthma, respiratory infections, ear infections, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 10% of pregnant women worldwide smoke tobacco during pregnancy. In some countries, such as Indonesia, Bulgaria, Chile, Greece, France, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Argentina, the prevalence of smoking in pregnancy is even higher than 20%. Smoking in pregnancy is responsible for an estimated 2.4% of all stillbirths and 5% of all infant deaths globally.

Smoking cessation is one of the most critical interventions for improving maternal and child health. Quitting smoking before or during pregnancy can reduce the risk of many adverse outcomes and improve the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby. For example, quitting smoking before 15 weeks of gestation can eliminate most of the increased risk of low birth weight. Quitting smoking at any time during pregnancy can reduce the risk of preterm birth and stillbirth.

However, quitting smoking can be very challenging for many pregnant women. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that can cause withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, depression, insomnia, cravings, weight gain, and difficulty concentrating. Many pregnant women also face social and environmental barriers to quitting smoking, such as stress, lack of support, peer pressure, exposure to secondhand smoke, and easy access to cigarettes. Therefore, many pregnant women may look for alternative ways to satisfy their nicotine addiction or cope with their withdrawal symptoms. One of these alternatives is vaping.

The Potential Benefits of Vaping for Smoking Cessation

Vaping can help smokers quit by delivering nicotine without combustion and tar, which are the leading causes of smoking-related diseases. Vaping can also mimic the behavioral and sensory aspects of smoking, such as hand-to-mouth movement, throat hit, and visual cues, which can satisfy the psychological and social needs of smokers. Vaping can also offer a variety of flavors, nicotine strengths, and device types, which can appeal to different preferences and needs of smokers.

There is some evidence that vaping can be effective and safe for smoking cessation in nonpregnant populations. For example, a randomized controlled trial in the UK found that vaping was more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation at one year, with 18% of vapers versus 9.9% of NRT users abstaining from smoking. Another randomized controlled trial in New Zealand found that vaping was as effective as NRT for smoking cessation at six months, with 7.3% of vapers versus 5.8% of NRT users being abstinent from smoking. Both trials also found that vaping was well tolerated and had few adverse effects.

Vaping may also have advantages over other NRT forms, such as patches, gums, lozenges, inhalers, and sprays. Vaping may be more convenient, cost-effective, and satisfying than NRT, as it does not require a prescription, can be used on demand, and can deliver higher doses of nicotine faster. Vaping may also be more acceptable and accessible than NRT, as it is widely available in shops and online and has less stigma and regulation than smoking.

However, vaping is not a magic bullet for smoking cessation. Vaping still involves nicotine addiction, which can be hard to break and may have adverse effects on health. Vaping may also expose smokers to new risks and harms, especially for pregnant women and their babies.

The Uncertainty of Vaping in Pregnancy

There is a lack of research on the effects of vaping in pregnancy, especially on miscarriage. Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. Miscarriage is a common and distressing event that affects about 10-20% of all pregnancies. The causes of miscarriage are often unknown, but some factors that may increase the risk include maternal age, previous miscarriages, chromosomal abnormalities, infections, chronic diseases, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposures.

The effects of vaping in pregnancy are largely unknown because most studies on vaping are relatively recent, small, observational, and focused on other outcomes. There are only a few studies that have examined the prevalence, patterns, reasons, cessation, and health outcomes of vaping in pregnancy. These studies have several limitations, such as self-reported data, low response rates, selection bias, confounding factors, lack of comparison groups, short follow-up periods, and small sample sizes.

Current research on vaping during pregnancy indicates that while it is not widespread among expectant mothers, its prevalence appears to be on the rise. For instance, in the United States, a survey revealed that the incidence of vaping during pregnancy increased from 0.6% in 2011 to 3.6% in 2015. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, findings show that the majority of pregnant women who vape rose from 1.1% in 2012 to 2.6% in 2016.

These studies also suggest that most pregnant women who vape are either current smokers looking to quit or former smokers trying to reduce their smoking habit. In the US, for example, 65% of pregnant vapers were current smokers, and 22% were former smokers. In the UK, 77% of pregnant vapers were current smokers, and 15% were former smokers.

Moreover, the research suggests that vaping may offer some advantages for smoking cessation or reduction during pregnancy. In France, 43% of pregnant vapers reported successfully quitting smoking altogether, while 39% reported reducing their cigarette consumption by over half. A study in New Zealand found that 12% of pregnant vapers quit smoking entirely, and 28% significantly reduced their cigarette consumption.

However, it's important to note that vaping during pregnancy may also pose risks and potential harm to pregnancy outcomes. A US study associated vaping with an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and babies being small for their gestational age. In the UK, research indicated an elevated risk of stillbirth, neonatal death, and congenital anomalies among pregnant vapers.

Therefore, the effects of vaping during pregnancy remain uncertain and may be detrimental, particularly regarding miscarriage and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Additional research is essential to establish the causal relationship between vaping and pregnancy outcomes, identify the underlying mechanisms, and compare the risks and benefits of vaping against smoking or other cessation methods during pregnancy.

The Potential Harms of Vaping in Pregnancy

Vaping places expectant mothers and their infants at risk of nicotine, flavorings, metals, and various chemicals, potentially influencing fetal and placental development and well-being. The impacts of these substances can vary based on factors like quantity, duration, timing, and exposure method. In some cases, these effects might parallel or surpass those associated with smoking, while in other instances, they could be distinct or poorly understood.

Nicotine

Nicotine stands as the predominant addictive component found in both tobacco and vaping products. Its ability to traverse the placental barrier allows it to access the developing fetus, potentially disrupting the typical development of vital systems, including the brain, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, and immune systems. Furthermore, nicotine can impact the structure and function of the placenta, which plays a crucial role in furnishing oxygen and essential nutrients to the fetus while eliminating waste products. Nicotine can reduce placental blood flow, elevate oxidative stress and inflammation levels, trigger apoptosis, and prompt gene expression and epigenetic regulation changes.

Some of the possible effects of nicotine exposure in pregnancy include increased risk of:

Impaired fetal growth and development
preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, intrauterine growth restriction, and fetal growth retardation
placental abruption, placenta previa, placental insufficiency, preeclampsia, and eclampsia
miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, SIDS, and perinatal morbidity and mortality
congenital anomalies, such as cleft lip and palate, gastroschisis, neural tube defects, cardiac defects, limb defects, and eye defects
neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, behavioral problems, emotional problems, and mental health problems
respiratory disorders like asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Flavorings

Flavorings are the substances that give vaping products their distinctive tastes and smells. There are thousands of different flavorings available for vaping, such as fruits, candies, desserts, beverages, tobacco, menthol, and spices. Flavorings are often considered safe for ingestion, but their safety for inhalation is unknown. Flavorings can also interact with other chemicals in vaping products and form new compounds with different effects.

Some of the possible effects of flavoring exposure in pregnancy include:

Irritation and inflammation of the respiratory tract, which can increase the risk of infections, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Allergic reactions and hypersensitivity, which can cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anaphylaxis
Toxicity and carcinogenicity, which can damage the cells and tissues of the lungs, liver, kidneys, and other organs and increase the risk of cancer
Endocrine disruption can interfere with the normal function and development of the hormonal system and affect the reproductive system, metabolism, growth, and behavior

Some examples of flavorings that may have harmful effects in pregnancy include:

Diacetyl: a buttery flavoring that can cause bronchiolitis obliterans, a severe lung disease also known as popcorn lung
Cinnamaldehyde: a cinnamon flavoring that can impair ciliary function and reduce mucociliary clearance in the lungs
Vanillin: a vanilla flavoring that can induce oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs
Benzaldehyde: a cherry flavoring that can irritate the respiratory tract and cause coughing and chest tightness
Acetoin: a creamy flavoring that can react with diacetyl and form diketones, which are associated with lung damage
Menthol: a minty flavoring that can enhance nicotine absorption and addiction and reduce the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions

Metals

Metals comprise the components of vaping devices, such as coils, wires, wicks, tanks, batteries, and chargers. Metals can leach into the vaping liquid and aerosol during the heating process or due to corrosion or wear and tear. Metals can also be released into the environment during vaping device manufacturing, use, or disposal. Metals can vary in toxicity and bioavailability depending on their type, amount, form, and source.

Other Chemicals

Other chemicals are the substances that are added to or formed in vaping products, such as propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, ethanol, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, nitrosamines, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These chemicals can have different effects depending on their type, amount, form, and source. Some of these effects may be similar or worse than those of smoking, while others may be unique or unknown.

Some of the possible effects of other chemical exposure in pregnancy include:

Dehydration and dryness of the mouth, throat, and eyes, which can increase the risk of infections, ulcers, and dental problems
Irritation and inflammation of the respiratory tract, which can increase the risk of infections, asthma, and COPD
Toxicity and carcinogenicity, which can damage the cells and tissues of the lungs, liver, kidneys, and other organs and increase the risk of cancer
Immunotoxicity, which can affect the function and development of the immune system and increase the risk of infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases, and cancer
Genotoxicity, which can affect the integrity and stability of the DNA and increase the risk of mutations, chromosomal abnormalities, congenital anomalies, and cancer

Some examples of other chemicals that may have harmful effects in pregnancy include:

Propylene glycol: a solvent and humectant that can cause dehydration and dryness of the mouth, throat, and eyes
Vegetable glycerin: a solvent and humectant that can cause dehydration and dryness of the mouth, throat, and eyes
Ethanol: an alcohol that can cause intoxication and impairment of judgment and coordination
Formaldehyde: a carcinogen that can cause irritation and inflammation of the respiratory tract and damage the cells and tissues of the lungs
Acetaldehyde: a carcinogen that can cause irritation and inflammation of the respiratory tract and damage the cells and tissues of the lungs
Acrolein: a toxicant that can cause irritation and inflammation of the respiratory tract and damage the cells and tissues of the lungs.

Vaping is the perfect alternative to smoking. But, it would help if you always remembered that you and only you are a person who can take care of your health. Also, you might be interested in how long after vaping I can breastfeed.