Nicotine and female reproductive system: a systematic review on animal studies

Nicotine is known as a major constituent of cigarette, e-cigarette, nicotine gum and nicotine patch. Nowadays, there is increasing trend of smoking cigarette in women at child-bearing age. Besides, nicotine gum and nicotine patch is widely used as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in pregnant women. Although it is claimed that nicotine alone is safer than cigarette, there only few studies that reported on its safety. More information is required to ensure its safe use in female. This study objective is to review the available animal studies on effects of nicotine on female reproductive and to provide systematic review on it. Studies were search using PubMed and Medline database. Only studies with accessible full text are included in this study. From all the studies reviewed, nicotine is found to exert adverse effects on female reproductive system in animal.