What is the impact of alcohol on fertility for women and men
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Alcohol significantly impacts fertility in both men and women. explains that consuming more than one or two drinks per week can have detrimental effects on fertility for both genders 1 2.
For men, alcohol affects sperm quality. states that the quality of sperm can be reduced, decreasing the likelihood of successful fertilization 1. Similarly, mentions that excessive alcohol consumption, particularly 20 drinks or more, can negatively affect semen quality, although other factors such as smoking and drug use might also be involved 3.
For women, heavy alcohol consumption can disrupt the quality of eggs and the hormonal balance necessary for ovulation. This disruption can impact the entire pool of follicles in the ovarian reserve, which reduces the quality of eggs deployed in a given cycle 1.
Binge drinking episodes, defined as consuming five to six drinks in a short period, dramatically increase the likelihood of mutations in embryos and significantly decrease the probability of fertilization 2. To optimize fertility and enhance the chances of a healthy pregnancy, advises minimizing alcohol intake, ideally avoiding it entirely if trying to conceive 1 2.
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