Giving up alcohol for good will take you leap ahead in your tryst for conception. Alcohol is a serious sex drive killer and potency inhibitor for both men and women. Even light drinking can be a culprit, so if you think it is okay to have a couple of drinks, it’s not!

Alcoholic beverage consumption is well accepted in most countries worldwide. As infertility rates increase, we have to wonder if regular alcohol consumption may contribute to this problem. We all know that heavy drinkers have a greater risk for all sorts of health problems, but what if you drink 5 or less alcoholic beverages a week? Research shows, even women who consumed 5 drinks or less a week each, had lowered fertility. The good news is that moderate alcohol consumption did not affect the length of time it took the couples to get pregnant. Those couples who drank more than 5 alcoholic beverages a week took longer to conceive.

Newer studies which focused on male fertility also revealed that men who drink alcohol regularly, have lower sperm motility and concentration. They also had reduced chance of fertilization.

Facts About Alcohol And Fertility

• Women and men should avoid consuming alcohol while trying to conceive.
• Women who consume more than 5 alcoholic beverages a week take longer to get pregnant.
• Women who drink 5 or less alcoholic beverages a week have lowered fertility.
• Infertile women who seek medical care for their fertility issues, have been shown to have a significantly higher alcohol intake than women who become pregnant naturally.
• Men who regularly consume alcohol have lower sperm motility and concentration, as well as lowered chance of fertilization.
• Alcohol depresses the adrenal glands and slows the release of hormones produced by the adrenal glands. This may directly impair egg health and libido.
• In men with poor sperm quality, excessive alcohol consumption was associated with decreased number of normal sperm.
• Alcoholic beverages contain a lot of sugar. Excessive sugar consumption decreases fertility by contributing to hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, yeast infection, vitamin and mineral deficiency and lowered immunity. All of which may impair fertility for both men and women.
• Drinking alcohol around the time of ovulation lowers your chance of successful conception.