does alcohol affect the baby during pregnancy? | Keeping an eye on your ovulation cycle, cutting down on caffeine, and supplementing with folic acid are all good ideas. It’s possible that if you’re presently trying to become pregnant, these tips will seem familiar. It’s likely that you’ve been told to cut down on your alcohol use as well. However, what is the relationship between alcohol and fertility, and can drinking reduce your chances of becoming pregnant? Yes, in a nutshell. But recent study shows that both the amount of alcohol ingested and the time of day it is consumed have a role in affecting this impact. Also, the quality of male sperm may be harmed, not only that of females.
- Drinking alcohol can reduce both men’s and women’s fertility. Even drinking lightly can reduce the chance of pregnancy.
- Heavy drinking increases the time it takes to get pregnant and reduces the chances of having a healthy baby.
- It is not clear how drinking small amounts of alcohol affects unborn babies but it is well known that drinking high amounts can be harmful.
MYTH BUSTING
MYTH
Pregnant women should refrain from consuming alcohol, but there is no need to do so before then.
FACT
Drinking makes it more difficult to get pregnant and less likely that the child will be healthy. Women who are pregnant or expecting to get pregnant should abstain from drinking alcohol.
Alcohol and your cycle
The menstrual cycle is divided into four phases:
- The menstrual phase: Otherwise known as the ‘period’. This phase represents the period of time the lining of the uterus (endometrium) sheds
- The follicular phase: Overlaps with the menstrual phase, starting from the first day of the period and ends with ovulation
- The ovulation phase: The ovary releases a mature egg into the fallopian tube
- The luteal phase: Takes place during the second half of the menstrual cycle and describes the time from ovulation until the start of menstruation.
- During the luteal phase, your luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels decrease whilst levels of progesterone increase, and oestrogen levels remain high. These hormones cause the lining of your uterus to thicken which prepares it for the implantation of a possible fertilised egg. (You can read more about your menstrual cycle stages here)
- This study found that when participants drank 3-6 alcoholic drinks per week (moderate drinking) during the luteal phase, it resulted in a 44% reduction in the chance of conceiving compared to non-drinkers. Whereas, when participants drank more than 6 alcoholic drinks per week (one drink a day) (considered heavy drinking) the chance of conceiving was reduced by 61%. Each additional day of binge drinking (more than 4 alcoholic drinks in a day) led to a further 19% decrease in the chance of conceiving.
- In contrast, the researchers found that only heavy drinking during both the ovulatory phase and the follicular phase was associated with a reduced likelihood of conceiving compared to non-drinkers. Additionally, when the cycle was considered in its entirety, the researchers too observed a significant association between heavy drinking and a reduced likelihood of conceiving.
Alcohol disrupts your hormone levels
- Although the researchers did not study how alcohol consumption during the luteal phase may diminish the chance of conception, it has been proposed that alcohol changes hormone levels during the implantation period, which may impact the likelihood of conception. Alcohol use has been linked to an increase in oestrogen, FSH, and LH levels and a reduction in progesterone levels. Oestrogen concentration is thought to influence how the embryo adheres to the lining of the uterus (endometrium), and hence an unusually high amount may reduce the possibility of implantation.
- However, for individuals contemplating abstaining from alcohol entirely during the luteal phase, the solution may not be that straightforward. The researchers used the premise that ovulation occurred 14 days before to menstruation. In actuality, the luteal phase may last anywhere from 7 and 19 days, depending on the cycle. Additionally, it is important to highlight that the findings of this research do not imply that heavy drinking during the second part of the cycle also prevents conception.
High Risk Pregnancy
- The research, which was published in Human Reproduction, one of the world’s top publications of reproductive medicine, examined how alcohol use decreases the likelihood of pregnancy, which is defined as the possibility of conceiving within a single menstrual cycle. This is the first research to examine this phenomena in relation to the various periods of a woman’s menstrual cycle.
- The Mount Sinai Study of Women Office Workers was studied by researchers lead by Dr Kira Taylor, associate professor of epidemiology and population health at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences (Kentucky, USA). We recruited women aged 19–41 and tracked them for up to 19 menstrual cycles. The women kept daily diaries in which they recorded how much and what kind of alcohol they consumed, and on the first and second days of each menstrual cycle, they supplied urine samples for pregnancy screening. “We found that excessive drinking at any time throughout the menstrual cycle was significantly connected with a decreased risk of conception when compared to non-drinkers,” Dr Taylor said. This is important because some women seeking pregnancy may feel that drinking during certain menstrual cycle phases is’safe.’
- Not only was heavy drinking associated with a decreased likelihood of conception during the luteal phase, the final two weeks of the menstrual cycle prior to the onset of bleeding and the implantation process, but moderate drinking was also associated with a decreased likelihood of conception during the luteal phase.
- Consumption of a substantial amount of alcohol during ovulation, which occurs around day 14 of the cycle, was related with a considerably decreased chance of pregnancy. When compared to non-drinkers, both moderate and heavy drinking during the luteal phase was associated with a 44 percent drop in the risk of conceiving. Consumption of alcohol during the ovulatory phase of the cycle was similarly connected with a substantial 61% reduction in the likelihood of getting pregnant. The researchers emphasise, however, that these are all estimates that should be viewed with care.
It affects men too!
- It’s important to remember that alcohol has an effect on male and female fertility — male partners must also accept responsibility. A study of 1221 males in Denmark discovered that men who consumed more than 5 units (about 3 small beers) of alcohol per week had worse sperm quality. This decline in sperm quality was significantly more evident in individuals who reported weekly alcohol use of more than 25 units.
- As with females, drinking alters the natural hormonal balance in men. Alcohol is known to decrease testosterone levels in males, and this effect gets more prominent with prolonged heavy drinking. Therefore, if you have a male companion, invite him to accompany you on your road to an alcohol-free existence!
What are the take-home messages?
- Many people like their daily glass of wine but should be aware of the risks this might pose to their fertility, especially if they consume more than a few glasses on a regular basis. Second, our bodies are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol depending on the day of our cycle we are now in.
- Give your body a vacation from alcohol and let your hormones to do their thing if you are intending to become pregnant or actively trying to get pregnant.
Reduce your alcohol consumption with these helpful hints.
We understand cutting out alcohol can be a challenge for many, so here are some of our top tips to get you started:
- Don’t try to accomplish it all by yourself! It might be challenging to reduce your alcohol consumption, particularly if you are doing it on your own. Together, you and your spouse (or a friend!) can do a lot to improve your health and the health of the unborn child.
- Be aware of your own personal triggers. Whether it’s a glass of wine to relax after a long day or the peer pressure to drink at a party, we all have scenarios that might heighten our desire to consume alcoholic beverages. Keeping an eye on your drinking desires might help you prevent or manage them.
- Self-indulgence – Keep your spirits up while limiting your booze intake. Set aside the money you would ordinarily spend on booze for a special gift for yourself.
