Infertility and Alcohol: Hidden Causes for Male and Female Fertility

October 21st, 2009 by admin

alcohol-abuse Infertility and alcohol are closely linked and most definitely taking alcohol could greatly impact your fertility in addition to causing harm to your unborn child. Most of us know the major effects of habitual alcoholism on functions of the reproductive system. In recent times, plenty has been highlighted concerning the impact of moderate alcohol consumption on reproductive functions. Many physicians urge their patients to inform them about their alcohol habits prior to initiating the process of conception. This way they will be able to offer the best advice and guidance when handling any case.

Below are several references concerning the amount of alcohol that is considered to be excessive. A single beer, one glass full of wine or a cocktail all contain approximately15 grams or a half ounce of pure alcohol. A moderate consumption of alcohol can be described as the consumption of between 4 and 6 drinks on a daily basis. This is equivalent to between 2 and 3 ounces (60 and 90 grams of alcohol). Alcoholism can be described as the intake of 8 drinks or more in a day, which is approximately 4 ounces of pure alcohol on a daily basis.

Female Fertility and Alcohol
Women trying to conceive need to know all the possible serious impact of alcohol consumption, which includes heightened possibility of a spontaneous abortion, impaired fetal development and growth, as well as infertility. Excessive use of alcohol is also notably linked to a dysfunction of hypothalmic-pituitary-ovarian malfunction, which causes amenorrhea or the lack of menstruation, anovulation (inability to ovulate), luteal phase defect as well as hyperprolactinemia. Intake of alcohol puts your infant and you at risk of a miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth as well as many different adverse effects.

Excessive intake of alcohol is also clearly linked to several ovulatory dysfunctions. Incase you are a sufferer of infertility and more so anovulation, you will be required to do away with alcohol completely.

Mothers who are alcoholics tend to have a greater risk of fetal alcohol syndrome. This condition was initially portrayed in 1773 by Jones. Features of the syndrome include mental retardation, growth deficiency, behavioral disturbances as well as an abnormal heart-shaped formation of the infant’s’ facial appearance. All these characteristics are as a result of expectant mothers who are alcoholics. In addition, congenital heart problems, brain defects are also commonly found with babies born of mothers who drink excessively before or during the pregnancy. The condition is noticed in between 30% to 40 % of infants whose mothers are alcoholics and shows the association between infertility and alcohol.

Apart from inherited conditions, the consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol by expectant mothers is the main reason for mentally retarded babies. There is yet to be a safe level that has been identified for expectant mothers who consume alcohol, thus avoid it at all costs.

Male Fertility and Alcohol
For men, excessive consumption of alcohol is likely to cause malfunction of the liver, which results in the rising of estrogen levels. This will alter the development of sperms as well as hormones. Alcohol has toxins that can kill the sperm-generating cells within the testicles. An individual sperm takes a minimum of 3 months to form fully, semen analysis procedures should be taken again after about three to four months of abstaining. This will ensure that the sperm count is properly evaluated, establishing the relationship between infertility and alcohol.