As far as alcohol is concerned, mothers are at greater risk of miscarriage and the baby-to-be has other risks such as mental retardation, stunted growth and low birth weight and even more serious complications such as brain abnormalities and congenital heart defects.
However, excessive drinking may also affect female fertility. Some of the effects of alcohol on a woman's reproductive capacity are:
- Disturbances of the menstrual cycle such as amenorrhoea.
- Decreased oocyte quality.
- Risk of suffering from certain diseases such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or hyperprolactinaemia.
- Problems for embryo implantation to occur.
Read the full article on: How does alcohol consumption influence fertility treatment? ( 42).
By Leonor Ortega López B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist), Marta Barranquero Gómez B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist) and Teresa Rubio Asensio BSc, MSc (embryologist).
Last Update: 09/06/2023
