When we think about fertility, we often focus on women's health, but male fertility is equally important. The preconception period, the three months before trying to conceive, can dramatically affect the future health of your child and the success of a healthy pregnancy. With 1 in 6 couples struggling with fertility, it's clear that environmental and lifestyle factors play a significant role. The good news is that men can take many steps to improve their chances of a successful pregnancy, and one crucial area to consider is alcohol intake.
The Power of Sperm Regeneration
It takes at least three months for sperm cells to develop fully. During this time, men have the unique ability to produce entirely new sperm. This means that men have a powerful opportunity to positively influence their fertility. While women are born with all the eggs they'll ever have, men continually create new sperm, giving them a significant advantage in making healthy changes before conception.
Why We Need to Talk About Alcohol
First and foremost, alcohol is a poison. Research shows that alcohol consumption can significantly impact male fertility and overall reproductive health. For instance, the female placenta is predominantly made by the father’s genes, meaning that a father's nutrition, smoking, and drinking habits contribute to female infertility and miscarriages.
How Alcohol Affects Male Fertility
Heavy drinking in men can:
Lower testosterone levels, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone
Raise estrogen levels, reducing sperm production
Shrink the testes, causing impotence or infertility
Increase enzymatic antioxidants and sperm DNA damage, leading to high levels of DNA fragmentation (1,2)
Contaminate with glyphosate (3)
The Impact on Sperm & Conception
Regular alcohol consumption can have several detrimental effects on sperm:
Lower sperm counts
Reduced sperm quality
Increased abnormal sperm
Lower motility (the ability of sperm to move)
Decreased libido
Increased risk of erectile dysfunction (ED)
Higher risk of miscarriage
The Critical Timeframe
The one month before IVF and during IVF are particularly hazardous times for alcohol consumption. Alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, such as zinc, which is crucial for male fertility. There is no conclusive evidence that an occasional alcoholic drink, such as one or two standard drinks a week, will affect sperm health. However, the more you drink, the more it can impact your overall health and fertility. Thus, it's best to limit alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per week for three months before trying to conceive.
What the Research Says
Heavy drinking can lower testosterone production, reduce libido, make it harder to get and maintain an erection and reduce sperm quality. Different definitions of heavy and risky drinking exist, but consuming two to four standard drinks a day (14-28 drinks spread across the week) is considered heavy. Drinking more than four standard drinks on one occasion is risky (4).
Even drinking three standard drinks per week might reduce sperm count. One study of over 1,200 Danish men aged 18-28 found that men who drank five units of alcohol per week (about three beers or three wines) had lower sperm counts and quality measures than those who did not drink (5). Men with a weekly intake above 40 units (about 32 standard drinks per week) had a 33 percent reduction in sperm concentration compared to those who drank one to five units per week.
A review of 15 studies concluded that daily drinking is associated with reduced semen volume and abnormal sperm morphology (the percentage of sperm that appear normal under a microscope) (6). The risk of not achieving a live birth more than doubled for men who consumed an extra drink per day. This increased risk is largely due to a higher miscarriage rate among couples where the male partner drank alcohol in the month leading up to the IVF cycle. Men who consumed additional daily drinks faced a 2-38 times greater risk of miscarriage.
Making Healthier Choices
While no alcohol is the best option, I understand that sometimes, abstaining entirely isn't realistic for everyone. When choosing your one or two drinks a week, consider the following:
In North America, wine and beer are often contaminated with glyphosate, and many alcoholic beverages contain GMO products. Being aware of this can help you make healthier choices.
If you’re in Europe, you’re in a better situation regarding glyphosate exposure since it’s mostly banned there, and they also strictly regulate GMOs.
Note that most of the world's beer contains some amount of corn in the grain mix.
For more detailed information, check out this useful resource on How to Avoid Those GMO Booze Blues.
The Bottom Line
While an occasional single glass of wine may have little effect, it’s worth exercising caution if you're trying to conceive. Alcohol can have a significant impact on male fertility, and reducing intake can be a powerful step toward improving reproductive health. By making these changes, you increase your chances of a successful pregnancy and contribute to your child's future health.
It's important to remember that you can incorporate many nutritious foods and supplements to improve sperm and fertility health, helping to mitigate any past damage. If you're looking for a personalized plan to enhance your hormonal and fertility health, I encourage you to fill out the inquiry form. Let's connect for a free 20-minute call to discuss how I can assist you in achieving your goals.
References
[1] S. Aboulmaouahib, et al., Impact of alcohol and cigarette smoking consumption in male fertility potential: looks at lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activities and sperm DNA damage, Andrologia 50 (3) (2018), e12926.
[2] A. Zini, M. San Gabriel, A. Baazeem, Antioxidants and sperm DNA damage: a clinical perspective, J. Assist. Reprod. Genet. 26 (8) (2009) 427–432
[3] Glyphosate in Beer and Wine https://pirg.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/WEB_CAP_Glyphosate-pesticide-beer-and-wine_REPORT_022619.pdf
[5] Danish Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25277121/
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