Does drinking alcohol affect fertility?
In women, alcohol affects fecundability (the ability to become pregnant) by disrupting the delicate balance of the menstrual cycle. Clinical research data published in the “British Medical Journal” suggests that women, who drank socially, 1-5 drinks per week, were at a greater risk of decreased fecundability when compared to women who remained abstinent. These findings underscore the importance of remaining abstinent while attempting to conceive. Research also suggests that alcohol disrupts the hormonal imbalance of the female reproductive system, leading to menstrual irregularities, and even anovulatory cycles (menstrual cycles where ovulation fails to occur). These changes can drastically decrease a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant and thus affect fertility. The NHS standards watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) looks at the available evidence on the best way of treating or managing a condition and makes recommendations based on this evidence.
