Alcohol and Fertility

Everything You Should Know While TTC

So you’ve been trying to conceive with no luck. Perhaps you’ve been trying to make positive changes in your life in order to improve your chances of success. You’ve kicked your poor dietary habits to the curb, you’re exercising, you’re taking care of your mental health, but you can’t give up that glass of wine at the end of the night.

If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Abstaining from alcohol is incredibly difficult. Not only does alcohol provide an outlet to many, but it is so intimately tied to most of our social events. Admitting that you’re not drinking raises many questions and queries. Most terrifying of all, maybe you’ll have to admit that you’ve been struggling with infertility.

For many patients we see, giving up alcohol is the hardest part of preparing for pregnancy. Obviously alcohol and fertility do not go hand in hand. That said, if you choose to continue to drink, what are the risks it poses when it comes to your fertility? Can alcohol negatively impact fertility, and if so, how much alcohol is too much?

Drinking During the Preconception Period

Alcohol’s Impact on Natural Conception

Unfortunately for all you wine lovers out there, the adverse effects of alcohol on fertility have been well documented¹. Research shows that alcohol consumption can significantly delay time to pregnancy¹. In fact, it was found that women who consume as little as two alcoholic drinks per day are at a much higher risk of infertility compared to women who have less than one drink per day³.  In men, there is a dose-effect and time-effect relationship between alcohol and semen quality⁵. This means that sperm volume, motility, and survival are all negatively correlated with increasing alcohol intake^5,6.  This correlation was found in men drinking as little as 5 drinks per week⁶. Moreover, increased alcohol consumption has also been linked to the increased need for fertility examinations in both women and men^,3.

Drinking Before IVF

We now know alcohol has a negative impact on natural conception, but what if you’re about to undergo IVF? Does alcohol affect IVF success rates? Research shows that women who drink four drinks per week have 16% less odds of a live birth with IVF compared to women who drink less than this⁷. Moreover, when both partners are consuming four drinks per week, the odds of a live birth are 21% lower compared to non-consuming couples⁷.  Female alcohol consumption 1 year before IVF has also been associated with a 13% decrease in the number of eggs retrieved, an increased risk of not achieving pregnancy by 2.86 times, and an increased risk of miscarriage by 2.21 times⁸. In men, one additional drink per day increases the risk of a failed IVF cycle by 2.28-8.32 times⁸. Additionally, men who drink the month of their IVF procedure have been found to have a 2.7-38.04 times greater risk of miscarriage⁸. Needless to say, if you’re about to undergo IVF it’s best to moderate your alcohol consumption.

How Much is Too Much?

Binge Drinking vs. Your Daily Drink

You can probably understand by now that alcohol is inherently bad for your fertility. But, just how much is too much? Moreover, what’s worse – binge drinking or regular daily intake?

Let’s start with the basics, what is binge drinking? In men, five or more drinks on one occasion classify as binge drinking, whereas in women the number of drinks drops to four⁹. Binge drinking has been associated with MANY chronic health concerns and is never recommended. So what about a casual daily drink? Unfortunately, new research has brought to light that regular drinking can be just as damaging to your health as binge drinking¹⁰. Researchers have concluded that alcohol-free days each week should be encouraged¹⁰.

When talking about fertility specifically, how much is too much? Based on the research we have so far, even as little as two drinks per day and/or four drinks per week in women has negative impacts on fertility^3,7. In men, semen parameters begin to decline with as little as five drinks per week⁶; with 4 drinks per day, decreased the production of testosterone and increased production of estrogen also occurs ^5,6.

Alcohol and Fertility: What IS Safe?

So what is SAFE when trying to conceive? We hate to burst your bubble, but most fertility clinics will recommend no more than 1-2 drinks PER WEEK for both partners. Some researchers have gone so far as to say abstaining altogether is the best course of action³. Although you may hate to hear it, the less you drink the better!

How to Handle the Social Consequences of NOT Drinking

We understand that abstaining from alcohol, or even just reducing consumption, can be exceptionally difficult. For some reason, when you choose not to drink people start asking A LOT of questions. We’ve laid out some tips for you to help navigate the social consequences that might come with abstaining:

• If you’re feeling courageous – be honest. There is NO shame in admitting that you’re trying to get pregnant, or that you’ve been struggling.
• If you’re not feeling courageous (no shame in this either), tell people that you’re trying to get healthy. Many diets, detoxes, you name it, advocate abstinence from alcohol. People will likely applaud you for trying.
• A very easy tip is just to pretend you are drinking. Order a virgin drink at the bar and tell no one. This way you won’t have to explain anything.
• If alcohol serves more of a stress-relieving function for you, try engaging in other relaxing activities. Take a bath when you get home, meditate, or watch your favourite TV show. Do anything that will help you to de-stress. If you need some more stress-reducing strategies, click here
• Suggest alcohol-free activities to your friends instead of visiting your local bar. Rock climbing, going to the movies, or even making dinners together at home are all great alternatives.

A Final Word on Alcohol and Fertility

Despite the research presented, some of you might be thinking that you know tons of couples who regularly drank and successfully conceived. Though this may be the case we want to emphasize that everyone is different. As we always say, health care should be individualized and should be unique to each person’s needs. The same holds for alcohol and fertility. Some people may be very susceptible to the health consequences of alcohol, whereas some people are not. When you’ve been struggling with infertility, it’s hard to identify all the subtle factors that may be contributing. As a result, it’s necessary to get rid of everything that might be having a negative impact, and that includes alcohol.  We completely understand that kicking this habit is not an easy one. Luckily, we’re here to support you the whole way through. If you’re trying to conceive and would like help reducing your alcohol consumption, I am here and happy to help!