Infertility and Alcohol

The menstrual cycle is a hormonally coordinated process that spans approximately 28 days. Two key events during this cycle is ovulation and menstruation. Any disturbance to the physical and mental health can disrupt the process, even a severe bout of the flu (seasonal influenza). Moderate alcohol consumption, which for women is drinking no more than one unit of alcohol per day, is unlikely to severely impact on the body and therefore disrupt the menstrual cycle. However, many women are drinking more than this and therefore risk disrupting the cycle. This not only includes women who drink more than one unit of alcohol per day, but also women who binge drink even just once a week.

If the menstrual process is disrupted then processes such as ovulation may also be affected. The effects of excessive alcohol consumption are more likely to have an impact on the menstrual cycle and fertility is there is an underlying gynecological or hormonal disorder. Apart from the effects of alcohol on the female body, alcohol misuse can also lead to risky sexual behavior. This increases the chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections which could damage the reproductive organs and further contribute to infertility. Abusing alcohol may also lead to nutritional deficiencies – another possible contributing factor in difficulty conceiving.

Safe Levels of Alcohol Intake for Women

For women who are trying to fall pregnant, abstaining from alcohol may be the best bet. However, safe levels for alcohol consumption in women is about one unit of alcohol per day. Women have a lower body weight than men and this is one reason for the difference between the safe levels in women and men (2 alcoholic units per day). Individual body weight is also a factor and therefore for women with lower body weights, one unit of alcohol may already be a bit high.

Not all alcohol is made equally and a accurate information about the quantities of different alcoholic drinks that constitute one unit needs to be clearly understood. Binge drinking, a more common practice among younger women, is the consumption of three or more drinks at one sitting. Many women are under the misconception that abstaining the entire week allows for additional consumption on the weekend. This is untrue and binge drinking can be as detrimental, if not more so, than drinking slighty more than the recommended daily intake.

Amount of Alcohol Allowed During Pregnancy

The amount of damage to the developing baby will depend on how much, how frequently and in what stages of pregnancy alcohol is consumed. However this cannot be accurately determined as individual tolerance or sensitivity may be contributing factors.  If a woman decides to have the occasional drink during pregnancy, a limit of one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week may be considered to be relatively safe, although it cannot be over-emphasized that no amount of alcohol can be said to be absolutely safe for the baby. Binge drinking or drinking more than five units of alcohol on any one occasion may prove to be extremely harmful for the baby.

A unit of alcohol may be taken as :

• Quarter of a pint of strong beer or lager
• Half a pint of regular beer, lager or cider
• Half of a small glass of twelve percent strength wine
• A small glass of sherry
• A single measure of spirits

Alcohol Dangers in First, Second and Third Trimester

Alcohol consumption during the first three months of pregnancy increases the chance of miscarriage. In later stages of pregnancy, it can affect physical growth of the baby as well as development of the brain. Drinking, especially often and in excess, in any stage of pregnancy can affect the baby in various ways, such as :

• Low birth weight of the baby
• Premature birth
• By affecting the development of the fetal brain, intellectual capacity of the baby may be hampered.
• Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) – the severity will depend on the amount of alcohol intake by the mother during pregnancy. Both physical and mental features such as a small head, small eyes, facial abnormalities, malformations in the heart and low IQ may be present.
• Learning disabilities and behavioral problems are more likely to occur in these children as they grow up.
• Research shows that children born of mothers who drank even moderately during pregnancy are more likely to indulge in alcohol from a younger age than children of non-drinkers.

Every effort has to be made by the mother to give up alcohol during pregnancy if she would like to deliver a healthy baby without any physical or mental defects. Alcoholism can be treated and if necessary, she should seek advice from her doctor prior to falling pregnant.