WIN Fertility Center August 7, 2022by dr. Pande Made Doddy Haryadi, S.Ked.
Consuming alcoholic beverages is often considered acceptable in some social settings, but it has adverse effects on your reproductive organs.[1] Alcohol is also a major concern for the impact on fertility of mothers and fathers due to the free radicals contained in alcohol.[2] Even men have been found to have smaller testicles and ejaculate less sperm during intercourse due to drinking more than 100 grams per week of ethanol-based alcohol. Alcohol primarily affects infertility that occurs secondarily (post-having already successfully conceived).[3]
Infertility itself is a fertility disorder characterized by the failure to get pregnant in more than 12 months despite regular unprotected intercourse or persistent failure to have children after having had children before.[4]
SO WHAT ABOUT ALCOHOL?
Alcohol consumption can affect your health. Alcohol can have both desirable and adverse effects depending on how much you consume. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to several chronic diseases including hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, cancer (of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon), dementia (known as senile dementia in old age) to anxiety/depression, and social and economic disadvantages, such as relationship breakdown and job loss.[5]
In contrast, moderate alcohol intake (1 drink/day for women and up to 2 drinks/day for men), may offer some health benefits. Benefits include a reduced risk of stroke and diabetes, as well as a reduced risk of heart disease or death from heart disease. In 2005, an estimated 26,000 deaths were prevented in the US due to reductions in heart disease, diabetes (known as sugar sickness) and stroke attributed to moderate alcohol consumption.[5]
In terms of fertility, alcohol is said to have a detrimental effect when consuming more than 2-4 drinks/week. This is due to the free radicals contained in alcohol consumed being high enough to directly affect you. Other effects include:[5]
- Heavy alcohol consumption decreases your egg reserve.
- Heavy alcohol consumption disrupts your menstrual cycle, making it harder to conceive.
- Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with decreased testicular size and sperm count in men.
- Heavy consumption of alcohol can even cause sexual disorders in men.
CONTROLLING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
It is best to talk to your doctor about any plans to modify your alcohol consumption as your doctor may have the best advice for your situation. However, there are a few things to keep in mind during the first few days after changing your alcohol consumption. You may experience sweating, rapid heartbeat, hand tremors, difficulty sleeping, nausea and vomiting, anxiety and agitation, or even hallucinations and seizures. Although uncomfortable, these symptoms should mainly persist only 1 to 3 days after modifying alcohol consumption patterns.[6] You can contact your doctor for further consultation.
If you are planning to have your childlessness checked and have a history of drinking alcohol before or even still do until now, you can make a reservation in advance on the Sobat Bunda app. By downloading the application and making a reservation at Sobat Bunda, you can find out the estimated queue time or turn to enter the examination, so that you don’t have to wait long at the hospital.