by the Way . . .

A study presented last month at a conference of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine revealed that nicotine somehow screws up the tails of sperm, making fertilization more difficult. Chronic smokers were 75% less likely to make a woman pregnant than nonsmokers. "Chronic" was defined as smoking 4 or more cigarettes a day. The researchers noted differences between heavy and light smokers, so couples trying to conceive were advised to reduce smoking or confine it to afterward.

Dr. Esterhaus Newman, noted author of "Just Say No" and who was not involved in the study, cautioned against relying on this method for birth control, and criticized the study for a failure to control for societal pressures, as smoking is no longer cool and may inhibit successful hitting upon.