How alcohol affects your fertility

A study was conducted by examining the alcohol consumption of men and women who were undergoing fertility therapy. This study was started from one year before therapy, until while fertility treatment was running. As a result, alcohol consumption in both men and women decreases the chances of having a healthy baby, and increases the risk of miscarriage.

Effect of alcohol on female fertility

Babies grow rapidly in the first weeks of pregnancy, even before the mother-to-be knows that she is pregnant. Several studies have shown that moderate levels of alcohol can increase the chance of miscarriage.

Experts have yet to determine which levels of alcohol are safe for pregnant women, nor do they know whether or how babies differ in their sensitivity and reactions to alcohol. However, because the harmful effects of alcohol during pregnancy are well known, women who are trying to get pregnant and those who are already pregnant may have to play it safe and avoid all alcoholic beverages.

If you are trying to get pregnant, it is most important that you do not drink alcohol during the second half of your cycle, after you ovulate, because that's when you are likely pregnant. If you're having your period, it's okay to drink a few glasses of wine during the first half of your cycle while you wait to ovulate again.

Effect of alcohol on male fertility

It's not just female fertility that's affected by alcohol. Excessive alcohol reduces testosterone levels and the quality and quantity of sperm in men. Alcohol can also reduce libido and cause impotence.

If a man is a heavy drinker this can actually reduce a partner's chances of getting pregnant. However, if you cut back on your drinking, your fertility can return to normal. The impact of alcohol on male fertility is something that can be felt by her partner every day.

How alcohol affects future fertility

Most of the effects of alcohol on the reproductive system are temporary, and the reproductive system returns to normal when you stop drinking. However, continuing to drink regularly in excess of the government's lowest risk guidelines can cause serious fertility problems for both men and women. This includes drinking heavily in your late teens and early twenties.

In men, excessive long-term alcohol consumption can lead to testosterone deficiency and shrink the testicles. This can lead to impotence, infertility, breast growth, facial and body hair loss, and growths around the pelvis.

Women who are heavy drinkers may stop menstruating or experience menopause early. Heavy drinkers who become pregnant are more likely to have miscarriages.

How alcohol affects babies if consumed by pregnant women

If you drink during pregnancy, alcohol is passed to your unborn baby, crossing the placenta to the fetus via the bloodstream. Your unborn baby's liver isn't fully formed yet, so he or she can't metabolize (break down) alcohol fast enough.

At this stage, the baby has a high blood alcohol concentration. Therefore, it becomes deprived of the oxygen and nutrients the brain and organs need to grow properly. This can affect the development of the baby, causing facial disabilities, poor memory or short attention span and mental health problems, such as addiction to alcohol or drugs. Problems like these are called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), a collective term for life-long alcohol-related conditions caused by exposure to alcohol before birth.

Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight are other related conditions binge drinking the mother — consuming more than six glasses at a time.

Tips for stopping the habit of drinking alcohol

Here are some ways to control your drinking if you are trying to get pregnant.

Start slowly. If you are trying to become pregnant, try to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink each day, and then try to have a few alcohol-free days a week.
Find support. Ask your partner to help you by reducing the alcohol they drink as well. If you are trying to get pregnant, this is important because drinking alcohol interferes with your sperm count and heavy drinking can cause temporary impotence.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.