For many of us, alcohol is synonymous with relaxing – it often plays a central role in our social activities and it’s frequently used to help us wind down after work. But while the occasional drink can be a pleasurable way to relax and de-stress, in large amounts it can actually threaten a man’s sexual performance and his chances of fatherhood.
In this article:
How does alcohol affect sperm count and sperm quality?
How does alcohol affect sperm count and sperm quality?
Alcohol can be extremely harmful to the male reproductive system. It is toxic to the testicles and affects the all-important cells that are involved in making sperm and producing the male hormone testosterone. It also seems to affect hormone production at the level of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain.
So not only does alcohol have a detrimental affect on the testicles themselves, it also upsets the delicate balance of hormones necessary for normal, healthy sperm production.
Chronic heavy drinking can cause shrinkage of the testicles (ouch!) and decreased testosterone production. This can result in impotence (the infamous ‘brewer’s droop’), the loss of male characteristics (for example reduced facial and chest hair), the development of ‘man-boobs’ and the deposition of more fat on the hips. In cases of alcohol abuse, it can also cause infertility.
A number of studies have found that heavy alcohol consumption in men appears to affect sperm count and sperm quality. The shape (or morphology) of the sperm seems to be particularly affected, which may reduce their ability to fertilize the egg.
And it might not just be heavy drinkers that risk damaging their sperm. Even moderate alcohol consumption appears to affect sperm count and quality.
In one study, moderate alcohol consumption of 5 or more units a week (1 unit of alcohol was described as 1 beer, a glass of wine or 40ml of spirits), was found to be associated with decreased sperm count and sperm quality, although the effects were more obvious in men who typically drank more than 25 units a week. Hormone changes were also experienced at these levels of consumption.
The good news is, that abstaining from alcohol can reverse the harmful effects on sperm production and quality. Sperm take up to 72 days to mature however, so the positive effects that you gain from abstaining probably won’t ‘kick in’ for about 2 – 3 months, possibly longer.
Will drinking alcohol affect my fertility?
Whether or not drinking alcohol actually leads to fertility problems however, is still controversial, though a couple of recent studies suggests that it does, at least in the IVF setting.
One study found that alcohol intake by the male partner during fertility treatment (IVF and GIFT) and over the preceding year, significantly increased the risk of miscarriage and the failure to achieve a live birth. In fact for every additional can of beer consumed per day in the week before sperm collection, the couple were up to 38 times more likely to experience a miscarriage and 8 times more likely to fail in becoming parents!
Another study carried out on couples undergoing IVF, showed that men who drank more than 6 units of alcohol per week were 14% less likely to become a father.
Any reduced fertility may be explained in part, by the fact that excess alcohol intake can be responsible for nutrient deficiencies. Adequate levels of certain vitamins and minerals are crucial for optimal sperm health, and alcohol can interfere with the absorption and utilization of these nutrients. For example, alcohol inhibits fat absorption, which then impacts on the absorption of the fat soluble vitamins A, E and D, all of which play a vital role in sperm production and quality. Levels of other critical nutrients such as folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin C, can also be affected by alcohol intake.
How much is too much?
Unfortunately there’s no clear-cut answer to this question. Not everyone will be affected by the same amount of alcohol in the same way. But based on the research so far, it appears that sperm quality (and the chances of a successful IVF baby), start being affected at levels of just 5 or 6 standard drinks a week. That’s about one 330ml can of beer a day (see How much am I drinking? below).
The bottom line is, that if you want to conceive, drinking alcohol is not going to be doing you any favours, and drinking every day or binge drinking is definitely a practice to be avoided. If you are a heavy drinker, then cutting back your alcohol intake will not only have a positive impact on your general health and wellbeing, it will undoubtedly help to boost the quality of your sperm.
If having an occasional beer or having a glass of wine once or twice a week is part of your normal lifestyle, it’s unlikely to impact on your ability to conceive. However if your sperm are already subpar, or if you and your partner are having problems getting pregnant, it might be time to quit. It doesn’t have to be forever; the 3 – 4 months prior to conception is the critical time for optimizing sperm health.
Alcohol is detrimental to female fertility too and drinking during pregnancy is not advised. So limiting or giving up alcohol, together with your partner, might be a great opportunity to support each other in optimizing your fertility as a couple – and to ensure the best possible health of your baby.
How much am I drinking?
Alcohol consumption is often measured in ‘Standard Drinks’.
1 Standard Drink is 10 mg of pure alcohol
1 Standard Drink is the same as:
– 330ml bottle or can of beer
– 100ml glass of wine
– 30ml straight spirits
Find out more information here
Resources
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