Effects of Alcohol on Male and Female Infertility
Many patients wonder if they can drink alcohol during fertility treatment or while trying to conceive, and whether there is a safe amount to drink. Most providers discourage drinking alcohol while trying to get pregnant, especially if a person struggles with infertility, and Dr. Stegmann is no exception. Dr. Stegmann recommends that patients don’t drink alcohol at all while trying to get pregnant, and here is why.
Studies on Alcohol and Infertility
Some studies have shown that alcohol can inhibit a person’s ability to get pregnant. One study found that couples that drank more than five alcoholic beverages per week had a harder time getting pregnant.
One study showed that drinking excessively even before trying to get pregnant can make it hard for a woman to get pregnant. Drinking excessively means having seven or more drinks per week or more than three drinks in one sitting. Reducing the number of drinks you consume to two or fewer per day also reduces your chances of having alcohol-related problems later in life.
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Fertility
Alcohol can cause birth defects early on, even before a person knows that they are pregnant. Alcohol commonly causes birth defects, such as developmental disabilities. Additionally, fetal alcohol syndrome is a big concern for people that excessively drink.
Men who drink alcohol may have less healthy sperm. It can affect how mobile their sperm are, the amount of sperm that they have, and it can cause men to be impotent while under the influence.
Drinking alcohol around ovulation time can lower your chances of getting pregnant. Additionally, many alcoholic drinks contain large amounts of sugar and the extra sugar in your body can deregulate your hormone levels, affect insulin, cause infections, and you may not have enough vitamins in your body. Alcohol also affects the functioning of the adrenal glands which regulate hormones and this can directly cause poor egg quality and lowered sex drive.
If you can’t eliminate alcohol, then try reducing your alcohol intake amount. A safer amount would be 1-2 drinks per week. It is also better to drink wine than liquor.
These are all good things to keep in mind, and you can use them as motivation not to drink alcohol. If you have more specific questions about alcohol, you can schedule an appointment at any of the Aspire Fertility Clinics or call the:
- Houston Clinic at (713) 425-3003
- Dallas Clinic at (214) 414-3806
- Austin Clinic at (512) 456-9827
- McAllen Clinic at (956) 300-3557
- San Antonio Clinic at (210) 981-3572
