Alcohol And Fertility: Drinking While Trying To Conceive

1. The relationship between alcohol and hormones
2. Can you drink while trying to get pregnant?
3. Does alcohol affect fertility?
4. Female fertility and alcohol
5. Why does alcohol affect fertility?
6. Male fertility and alcohol
7. Does alcohol affect sperm?
8. Tips for reducing your alcohol intake

One of the key tasks of future parents in preparation for a natural pregnancy or IVF is giving up bad habits, in particular stopping drinking alcohol when trying to get pregnant (and even better - much earlier, a year before planning a pregnancy).

Alcohol and fertility are negatively correlated: drinking alcohol when trying to conceive reduces the chances of pregnancy by affecting a woman’s hormonal status and has a damaging effect on eggs (of course, you can resort to mitochondrial treatment before IVF, but the technique will not help to avoid possible chromosomal pathologies and genetic pathologies that may arise due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages). Additionally, the increased likelihood of miscarriage is another illustration of how alcohol affects fertility in women.

In this material, we will take a closer look at the relationship between alcohol and fertility: can alcohol affect fertility, can you drink alcohol when trying to get pregnant, does alcohol prevent pregnancy, and other issues.

The relationship between alcohol and hormones

Can you drink while trying to get pregnant?

Drinking alcohol while trying to conceive negatively affects not only the body of the expectant mother and her ability to bear a fetus, but also the health of the child. Regarding the question “Does alcohol prevent pregnancy?” ― no, alcoholic drinks do not have contraceptive properties, however, drinking alcohol when trying to get pregnant negatively affects the chances of achieving and maintaining gestation.

Less is known about whether alcohol affects fertility than whether alcohol affects pregnancy. However, it is recommended that women who are actively trying to conceive avoid drinking alcohol.

There is no safe dose of alcohol that does not negatively affect the development of the fetus. A woman can find out about her pregnancy a few weeks after conception. By this point, alcohol can cause serious harm to the fetus, since in the first trimester the formation of all organs and systems that subsequently determine the health of the unborn child occurs.

Does alcohol affect fertility?

If a woman asks the question “Can alcohol affect fertility?” the answer is clear ― yes, drinking alcohol in any amount (even one cocktail a day) negatively affects both female and male fertility.

Female fertility and alcohol

Why does alcohol affect fertility?

A number of studies have aimed to study the effect of alcohol on hormonal levels and, as a result, on fertility.

Research has identified a mechanism that explains how alcohol affects fertility: drinking alcoholic beverages increases estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, and decreases progesterone levels. In women, a violation of the level of at least one sex hormone can disrupt the menstrual cycle, lead to a lack of ovulation, and generally reduce the chances of conception. An increase in estrogen also leads to a decrease in the likelihood of embryo implantation into the uterine mucosa. In some cases, the inability to achieve pregnancy and carry it to term may require turning to the services of a surrogate mother.

In addition to affecting hormone levels, alcohol negatively affects overall health, resulting in reduced fertility, difficulty in getting and maintaining pregnancy, and an increased risk of birth complications and fetal malformations.

Male fertility and alcohol

It is known not only how alcohol affects fertility in women, but also what effect drinking has on male fertility. A decrease in testosterone levels with long-term alcohol consumption can cause decreased libido, erection problems and, as a result, decreased fertility or infertility.

Does alcohol affect sperm?

According to the results of the study, it was found that drinking 3 small bottles of beer per week leads to a decrease in sperm quality. Drinking 10 pints of beer a week leads to a pronounced drop in sperm quality. This in turn leads to a decrease in the ability of sperm to fertilize the egg.

Tips for reducing your alcohol intake

If completely abstaining from alcohol seems like an impossible task, then reducing its consumption to improve fertility will be a step towards a successful pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child.

Here are some tips to reduce your drinking while trying to conceive:

• don't be left alone with the task: it is very difficult to reduce your alcohol consumption if those around you continue to drink. At a minimum, it is worth bringing the future father on your side: the likelihood of achieving pregnancy also depends on his sobriety.
• understand your triggers: maybe a glass of wine is a way to relieve stress after a hard day at work, or drinking at a corporate event or a friendly get-together is an unspoken obligation. Either way, keep track of your triggers and come up with an eco-friendly way to avoid drinking alcohol.
• reward yourself: To stay motivated, you need positive reinforcement. For example, you can save money that you could spend on alcohol, and after a week, buy something nice with it.
• for detailed advice and guidance on reducing your drinking, you can visit the NHS, Support Line and Drink Aware resources.

Of course, drinking alcohol while trying to get pregnant does not exclude the possibility of achieving pregnancy, carrying it to term and giving birth to a healthy child. However, it is worth taking into account the greatly increased risks for mother and baby with this approach. Chromosomal abnormalities due to damage to eggs may cause the need to seek the services of oocyte donors for women of advanced reproductive age, and difficulties with pregnancy (multiple miscarriages) may require the help of a surrogate mother. Consider whether the possible complications of sticking to alcohol for the short period required to experience the greatest joys of motherhood are worth it.