Smoking and urological disease

It is important to realise that virtually every part of the body, including the urological system, is adversely affected by smoking. Smoking is the mo st important known preventable cause of urinary bladder cancer and is also associated with a risk of prostatic and renal cancer. The exact mechanism b y which smoking increases the incidence of urological malignancy is not kno wn. One possibility is that chemicals in cigarette smoke inhibit the synthe sis of cytoprotective eicosanoids. Deficient local protection, against the hostile environment caused by the presence of urine, could then encourage t he process of carcinogenesis. Smoking is a powerful predictor of erectile d ysfunction; cessation may restore normal function. Cigarette smoke also exe rts adverse effects on sperm motility and count. Although there is no convi ncing evidence of reduced fertility in male smokers, it is advisable for me n to quit smoking should they have marginal semen quality and wish to start a family. Smoking causes substantial urological pathology; these facts can be used to convince patients with urological problems to quit smoking.