Alcohol and IVF - thoughts?

ILoveRedVino

What have you heard/been told about alcohol during IVF - for men and women?

I came across this, and several others like it, last night.  My RE hasn't mentioned cutting out alcohol, so this was kind of a wake up call.

I recently read a very interesting article by Rossi et al. ?Effect of Alcohol Consumption on In vitro Fertilization,? published in the prestigious journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in January 2011, volume 117, pages 136 to 142.

The authors looked at more than 4,700 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in more than 2,500 couples. Couples were given questionnaires to fill out regarding their alcohol consumption at the time of the IVF cycle start, not during the IVF cycle or pregnancy. The primary outcome that the authors were interested in was the live birth rate after IVF. They found that for men or women undergoing IVF, drinking four or more drinks per week prior to an IVF cycle is associated with a 48 percent higher risk for failed fertilization and a 21 percent lower chance for a live birth.

On the one hand, it seems obvious that alcohol might have a negative impact upon fertility. However, as the authors point out, while there is an enormous amount of evidence published on the adverse effects of alcohol consumption upon the fetus during pregnancy, there is not much data on the effect of alcohol consumption upon fertility. In addition, they theorize that perhaps couples undergoing IVF are not expecting to conceive without assistance and therefore they may not limit alcohol consumption prior to an IVF cycle, thinking that they will stop once they start their fertility drugs.

In general, infertile couples in this study reported less drinking than the general population ? 45 percent to 66 percent reported consuming any alcohol at all, while 62 percent to 74 percent of the general population reports that they are current drinkers.

After I read this article, I started paying more attention to whether or not my patients were drinking. We tell all of our female patients not to drink at all during the IVF cycle, but we do not really say anything about drinking prior to the IVF cycle. We do not pay much attention to the guys at all, unless the wife brings up a concern about too much alcohol. But how much is too much? Until this study, there really was not much data out there.

To my surprise a lot of women and men are consuming significant amounts of alcohol. They have some idea that maybe they are drinking too much, but without their doctor saying something very specific, they really did not think about it too much. I found that many men and women ? men more so than women ? were drinking four or more drinks per week. Although many of my patients enjoy having a drink, most responded very positively to the recommendation to cut back to fewer than four drinks per week. For my female patients, I also asked them to abstain completely after ovulation (usually around day 14 if you have 28-day cycles). Yes, even the guys were happy that there was something they could do to help with the baby-making plan!

So, bottom line ? no alcohol at all during the IVF cycle ? definitely for women, and not a bad idea for the guys. Before the IVF cycle, alcohol seems to be OK in moderation. And moderation ? at least according to this recent, large study ? seems to be less than four drinks per week.

katka512

Interesting article. I haven't had a drink since I started stims. I just feel more comfortable that way. I drank before my cycle, not a ton, but it helped me relax. My RE never specifically said to stop drinking before my cycle but the clinic always promo

twistsandturnsto2

Thanks for the read.
I've never been given any recommendations by my RE about not consuming alcohol during any of my cycles, but cut way back when I start BCPs and cut it all out at the start of Lupron.

Km672

Interesting study

Really? Is anyone surprised that people undergoing fertility/IVF treatments are drinking? I'm not!
In most of the vents in this board the OP can not wait to have a few! I say whatever gets you through the day.

BootsOrHearts

There have been a few similar studies, however, no-one has ruled out a third cause factor in success rates of IVF and alcohol consumption. For example - one study found that alcohol consumption - specifically - consumption of white wine by women, was c

J&D2007

Honestly, I think so many of these studies are flawed that I don't take them too seriously.  For one study that found a link, there are probably 10 that didn't.  IMHO, I think a few drinks here and there couldn't possibly be an issue.  It j

chucktgirl

BootsOrHearts:

There have been a few similar studies, however, no-one has ruled out a third cause factor in success rates of I

lizrn1975

I did see this recently and thought it was very interesting. I consider myself to be a moderate drinker; 1-2 drinks 4 nights a week or so. I drank up until my transfer with my first IVF cycle in Jan/Feb and it ended in an early miscarriage. I'm planning o

fouadi

I wound not have any drinks at all! I was drinking 1 glass of wine during cycles 1 and 2, stop for 3 and got a bfp with twins:) Also gave up Equal packets.