There are several lifestyle factors that can affect fertility, and it's no secret that heavy alcohol consumption is one of them. But how much is too much? And how does it contribute to infertility issues? In this article, we'll give you an overview of the effects of alcohol consumption on both male and female fertility and suggest some ways you can address your drinking habits to best look after your fertility.
How can excessive alcohol consumption affect male fertility?
Heavy drinking is one lifestyle factor that can be detrimental to male fertility. Drinking more than the Government's recommended number of units per week can affect fertility in the following ways:
- Sperm Production: Alcohol can disrupt sperm production in the testes and lead to a decrease in sperm count, reducing the number capable of fertilising an egg.
- Sperm Quality: Alcohol can also impact the quality of sperm. Heavy drinkers are significantly more likely to develop abnormalities in sperm shape (morphology) and impair their ability to swim properly (motility), making it more difficult for them to reach and fertilise an egg. Binge drinking is especially bad for sperm quality - a glass of wine in the evenings is less damaging than a heavy Friday night - so at the very least, try to spread out your alcohol consumption.
- Erectile Dysfunction: Chronic alcohol abuse is associated with erectile dysfunction: difficulty getting or maintaining an erection. If you are experiencing ED, try to moderate drinking before turning to pharmaceutical solutions such as Viagra.
- DNA Damage: Alcohol can increase the production of harmful free radicals in the body, which can lead to DNA damage in sperm cells, and potentially to fertility problems or birth defects in your child.
- Hormone production: Impaired follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone production is another side effect of heavy drinking. Low testosterone levels negatively impact sperm production and quality, and so by drinking heavily, you are reducing sperm concentration, and slowing down those that are left.
It's important to remember that the extent of alcohol's impact on male fertility varies depending on the amount and frequency with which it's drunk. Heavy or chronic alcohol use tends to be most damaging to fertility. However, even moderate levels of alcohol consumption can contribute to fertility issues.
Consulting with a healthcare professional, fertility specialist or Fertifa Patient Advisor can provide you with a more detailed picture of the relationship between alcohol consumption and fertility.
How can excessive alcohol consumption affect female fertility?
Unfortunately, the effects of alcohol consumption on female fertility can be just as damaging.
- Disrupted Menstrual Cycle: Alcohol can disrupt the delicate hormonal balance needed for regular ovulation and menstrual cycles. It can lead to irregular or absent menstrual periods, making it more challenging to determine the fertile window for conception.
- Ovulation Disorders: Alcohol can interfere with the release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation). Irregular or infrequent ovulation reduces the chances of conception.
- Hormonal Imbalances: Alcohol consumption can disrupt hormone levels in the body, including estrogen and progesterone. These hormones play crucial roles in regulating the menstrual cycle and supporting reproductive health, and so imbalances can interfere with normal fertility processes.
- Increased Miscarriage Risk: Alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to conceive can increase the risk of miscarriage or pregnancy complications.
- Impaired Implantation: Alcohol can interfere with the successful implantation of a fertilised egg into the uterus. It can disrupt the lining of the uterus and affect the embryo's ability to implant and establish a pregnancy.
- Reduced Egg Quality: One prospective cohort study discovered a relationship between alcohol consumption and egg quality. This can affect the viability of eggs, making them less likely to be successfully fertilised and develop into a healthy embryo.
Overall,tudies suggest that excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a decline in fertility and an increased time to achieve pregnancy. It can reduce the overall likelihood of conception and increase the risk of infertility.
Just as with people assigned male at birth, the relationship between alcohol consumption and female fertility depends on the amount and frequency you are drinking. Again, heavy alcohol use tends to have more pronounced negative effects. For example, low to moderate amounts of alcohol before pregnancy do not increase the probability of miscarriage, whereas heavy drinking might.
How much is too much?
Pregnancy
According to the NHS, people who are pregnant should abstain completely from alcoholic drinks, as even moderate drinking increases the risk of long-term negative health effects in the child. Previous studies have shown that the more alcohol you drink during pregnancy, the greater risk your child is at of low birthweight, premature birth and foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which can lead to problems with:
- Learning and behaviour
- Joints, bones, muscles
- Developing emotions and social skills
- Hyperactivity
If you suspect or have discovered you are pregnant and are worried about drinking alcohol, the Tommy's website has some useful suggestions to help you quit.
People trying to conceive
For people trying to conceive, drinking alcohol in any quantity can reduce the chances of conception by disrupting hormone levels and ovulation. One study found that a moderate alcohol intake of just 3-6 alcoholic drinks per week reduced an individual's chance of a successful conception by 44%.
Unsurprisingly therefore, if you were assigned female at birth and are trying to get pregnant, the NHS recommends you minimise your alcohol intake. Ideally, you would stop drinking alcohol completely, however if you do choose to drink, limit yourself to a maximum of 1-2 units, once or twice per week.
Excessive alcohol consumption can kill healthy sperm, leading to a diminished sperm count and in some cases even temporary impotence. With regard to people assigned male at birth drinking while trying to conceive, the NHS refers to the general recommended limit of no more than 3-4 units of alcohol per day (a weekly alcohol intake of 14 units).
People undergoing IVF treatment
One study published in Obstetrics and Gynaecology found that people who drank more than four alcoholic drinks per week while undergoing IVF were 16% less likely to successfully conceive. Some doctors would recommend stopping alcohol intake altogether to maximise your chances of conception.
