what evidence is there that alcohol and and drug misuse affects fertility?

[mulranno]

My brother and his wife have led a hedonistic life as children of the rave generation... they continue to drink heavily, snort coke, smoke weed. They are in their late 30's...now want to ttc...but they have not cleaned up their act. What are their chances?

Would appreciate feedback on published evidence of affects on fert with drink and drug abuse.... but do not want to create a thread on the ins and outs of their lifestyle.

[PuzzleRocks]

I don't have any published evidence but do know several people who fit that bill who had no trouble at all conceiving.
Conversely I know two couples who never smoked or took drugs, only drank moderately and struggled to conceive.

[mulranno]

thanks puzzlerocks....its probably am obscure request when most people have "non-specific" infertility...just wondered if there had been any studies showing drink and drugs were detrimental to fertility.

[fifitot]

There are studies. You would need to google. Don't want to come over all moralistic but if you are TTC surely you would want to hold off the drugs and alcohol, not only to aid conception but to ensure you didn't get pregnant and before you found out continued to take drugs......

[ICouldKillMyExThisMinute]

Forget about having problems to conceive (they may well manage) but probably it would be good for them to know which are the effects of drug use and alcohol in the unborn baby.

You will need to google it but there are many things, from changes to the facial features, smaller babies for their age and obviously, babies that are born already addicted to the mum's drug of preference.

[mulranno]

I agree...this is especially difficult in my family as my clean living sister has been trying for years ...gone thru the mc's, ivf etc. ... wold be shocking if these 2 fuckwits got pregnant (I am now being judgemental)...but a disaster for all if the baby was unwell....life is not fair

[brettgirl2]

The way I look at this is if alcohol was so detrimental to fertility there would be no need for contraception in many cases.

Isn't Vodka in fact the cause of many pregnancies?

They do sound pretty hard core though (I had significant guilt about drinking half a bottle of wine unknowingly at 5 weeks ) and as others have said need to consider the implications on the baby. Is your SIL actually able to stop all this if she gets pregnant?

[nolongerchunkybutstillapudding]

So you don't want to create a thread on the INS and outs of their lifestyle but you're calling them 'fuckwits' yourself?

I assume you are actually looking for evidence to encourage them to clean up their act?or do you just want us all to slag them off?

[mulranno]

I really dont wish infertility on them....I suppose I am just feeling for my sister....if they get pregnant and she never does.
In fact I think that a child could give them a healthy direction in life. They have been ttc now for nearly 2 years and if anything their drink and drug intake has increased during this time. I am sure that they know in their hearts that only they can be directly responsible for improving their own chances. Thought that there might be some studies which could encourage them to clean up their act at this time.