High Alcohol Intake and Fertility

A new study has suggested that high alcohol consumption can impact female fertility.

The study found that women who drank 14 or more servings of alcohol per week were more likely to have reduced fertility. However, low or moderate intake (one to seven servings per week) did not show the same trend, nor was the type of beverage a factor.

6,120 female Danish residents, aged 21-45 years, were included in the study. All were actively trying to conceive and not receiving any fertility treatment between June 2007 and January 2016.

Due to the nature of the study, no firm link between cause and effect can be established. It is also important to note that the study did not distinguish between binge drinking and regular drinking – an important factor, as alcohol can affect the menstrual cycle. Equally, male alcohol intake was not taken into account, which can affect fertility and sperm quality.

The authors still recommended that couples abstain from drinking alcohol during a fertile window until a pregnancy has been ruled out as a pregnancy is particularly vulnerable in this early stage after conception.

For more on this study see here

For more about alcohol consumption see our Be Healthy page here