This may seem stupid since I assume it does but if a man uses e-cigarettes, could it affect his fertility or increase the chance of birth defects?

Long explanation. I’m sorry but I need advice, or input.

My husband smokes E-Ciggs. Not to extreme measures but he does it to de stress time to time everyday. He decided to stop forever now as he wants to be a father and so we can try for a baby in the next 3 months after we move. My husband has never smoked actual cigarettes, but after joining the military the stress made him resort to E- Cigarettes while we were separated. I moved in with him after we married but he never stopped. It’s been about 2 years of smoking with E cigarettes and he wants to start trying for a baby soon this year , but I don’t know if we should wait a while before we try because of the nicotine affects . I don’t want a baby with birth defects from our own faults you know?

E -Cigarettes are not that new but new enough where there is not enough studies done to show the risk it poses in males when it comes to conceiving .

From what I learned, yes it’s possible that what he is smoking can cause birth defects but nothing as close to as if he was smoking an actual cigarette since E-Cigarettes release way less toxins. Also, he isn’t a heavy smoker.

I’m just scared now because today I found out my sister is 5 months pregnant and her baby has Down syndrome . She’s healthy as can ever be. Everyone in my blood line is and we have nothing wrong with us health wise. We think it most likely is because her fiance is a hard core smoker that finishes PACKS in one day. He can’t quit. He’s been that way for years . She also is exposed to it so who knows.

I just wanted to know how long do you think we should we wait before we try ? Or do you think we’ll be okay?

I already scheduled appointments to talk to a doctor about his fertility, and my own. Run some tests for certain things. I just wanna be a good mom and educate myself more before I even decide to bring a child into this world not knowing the risks I could possibly give this child from bad health habits. Better to fix them now and wait till a time is right.