Making It Harder to Conceive

Newspaper Column Ad Appearing 1-22-03

Not only can consuming alcohol during pregnancy lead to health problems for the infant, it is more difficult to get pregnant in the first place. This news comes from Danish researchers who studied 430 couples for six months or until the woman became pregnant. In the meantime, the researchers recorded such medical details as menstrual cycles and sperm counts each month as well as alcohol consumption. They found that women who consumed an average 11 to 15 drinks per week in a cycle, only had one-third the chance of conceiving that month as women who did not drink alcohol at all. Moderate drinkers (6 to 10 drinks per week) were half as likely to conceive. Little is known how alcohol consumption might cause that effect. It is quite likely that alcohol interferes with normal hormone production which is necessary for ovulation and conception. It is also likely that women who get most of their calories from alcohol have poor nutrition and vitamin deficiencies which may interfere with embryo implantation and its early nourishment. Women who drink and are planning to conceive should abstain from alcohol, tobacco smoke, and other toxins for at least three months prior to conception. During that period of time, a woman should take prenatal vitamins with an extra dose of folic acid in order to increase her chances to conceive and carry a healthy child.

It bears mentioning that there is NO amount of alcohol or tobacco smoke that is considered safe for a fetus. If you are pregnant, it is advisable for you to abstain from all such potentially harmful behaviors. For additional information on this subject or to schedule an appointment, please call OAK BROOK FERTILITY CENTER, a medical practice devoted to reproductive endocrinology, infertility, and assisted reproductive technology. New patients are welcome.

P.S. The Danish study mentioned above found that even light drinking (1 to 5 drinks per week) cut a woman’s chances of getting pregnant by one-third.

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