Alcohol- does it affect fertility? That is quite a common question which many couples wonder while trying to conceive. The answer, according to research, is a big YES. In fact, the next big question stands as to what degree of effect alcohol might be having on fertility. Heavy drinking rate of large amounts of alcohol is related indirectly and directly to affecting fertility most certainly.
In fact, it has been proven that even a moderate level of drinking alcohol can make it difficult to conceive. As to the more important questions like how much alcohol might be safe to drink without affecting your reproductive pathway or how does it cause female infertility, much of it is related to your personal body stature or physiology.
According to a study, women who consume more than 5 alcoholic drinks per week can take longer to conceive than other women. It was seen in a study that the amount of chances of conception in women drinking more than 5 alcoholic drinks a day is about 9 % less than in women who don’t. As far as males are considered, a those who drink alcohol regularly tend to have lower sperm count and reduced motility. Alcohol affects cells that are essential in making sperms and producing testosterone.
Important conclusions from the study around alcohol and infertility
The following are the conclusions.
- While trying to conceive, men and women should both avoid alcohol.
- In fact, women undergoing medical care for their infertility are shown to have a particularly higher level of alcohol intake than women who undergo pregnancy naturally.
- The adrenal glands get depressed by alcohol due to which amount of hormones secreted by them becomes less. This can lead to impairment of egg health and libido.
- In case of males with less fertility, excessive alcohol consumption decreases normal sperm count.
- Drinking alcohol anytime around the ovulation phase can reduce chances of successful conception.
- Research says that women who drink more than 14 alcoholic drinks a week experience a decrease of about 20 % in their capacity to conceive.
Read more: Counseling and infertility of women
