Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner won’t stop drinking even though his sperm analysis is bad and I’ve had 3 miscarriages

126 replies

Jackie8787 · 26/11/2024 19:17

My partner and I have been trying to conceive for the last year. In that time, I’ve had 3 miscarriages. All of my tests so far have come back ok, although I am still very much aware that the issue could lie with me as there can be so many possible causes.
My partner has now had 2 sperm analysis a few months apart. The first one was after my 2nd miscarriage and the most recent analysis was after my 3rd miscarriage. Both results have come back with low morphology (< 1%) and the count/motility aren’t great either.
He’s always liked a drink and regularly has beers or wine on week nights and weekend. I asked him to cut down before we started trying as we are late thirties and I was aware that alcohol can affect fertility. He never did.
After my second miscarriage and his sperm analysis, I gently broached the subject again and asked if he would be willing to cut out alcohol completely and I would do the same (even though I hardly drink). He agreed but it lasted less than a week.
After my 3rd miscarriage and his second SA, I said we really need to try cutting out alcohol. I’ve always been careful never to blame him as we don’t know that his sperm is causing the miscarriages, but as we know sperm regenerates over 3 months, surely it has to be worth a try. Again, he said he would.
We’ve just had a huge argument because he’s still drinking most nights and asked me if he could have some wine tonight. I told him he knows my thoughts but he’s an adult so he needs to make that decision and he’s gone off at me saying that I’m not a dr and that I’m blaming him ‘fine, it’s all my fault etc’.
I don’t know what to do next, am I being unreasonable? I feel like if he cared about having a child as much as he makes out, then it wouldn’t be that hard to cut out alcohol just for a few months, especially after how traumatic the last miscarriage was.

OP posts:
RosieLeaf · 26/11/2024 19:18

He’s not bothered.

CaptainMyCaptain · 26/11/2024 19:18

Do you really want to have a baby with a man who drinks every night? It sounds like he's not as committed as you are.

Snorlaxo · 26/11/2024 19:19

Are you sure that he wants a child ? Considering what he’s like now, I’d be concerned that cutting out alcohol is going to end up as the stick that he beats you with forever.

Pandasnacks · 26/11/2024 19:20

Sorry OP but he's clearly not that bothered about having a baby.

1987qwerty · 26/11/2024 19:20

His drinking is more important to him than you are.

toomuchfaff · 26/11/2024 19:20

So if he can't stop drinking to conceive, do you think he will when the baby is here?

Stopping drinking is a small step, to aid in infertility and he's unwilling. Does he really want this or is it you that wants this?

Initial thoughts are why have a child with this man?

NeverDropYourMooncup · 26/11/2024 19:20

He wants alcohol, sex and a house in that order, not a baby.

But above all, he wants alcohol.

ByGentleFatball · 26/11/2024 19:21

A lot of men don't have an independent urge to have kids. Giving up drinking just because it might increase the chances of conception doesn't seem like a good deal to him.

Plastictrees · 26/11/2024 19:22

I’m so sorry OP, what a terrible time you have had. I am sorry but I think your partner is likely alcohol dependent and I would have strong reservations about having a child with him. The fact he will not or cannot reduce his intake shows a lack of motivation and lack of desire to have a successful pregnancy. I would seriously reconsider things OP. Take care of yourself.

GoogolB · 26/11/2024 19:22

He is an alcoholic, I’m afraid.

Tagyoureit · 26/11/2024 19:23

Please don't have this man's child!

Octonaut4Life · 26/11/2024 19:25

To be honest I'd be really concerned that alcohol is this important to him that he can't give it up for more than a week. That feels like a red flag for future alcohol dependency. More generally, having a baby is hugely stressful and requires serious change and compromise to all aspects of your lifestyle. If he can't make this one change pre-baby, on a temporary basis, I would be seriously concerned that he won't be making any changes permanently post-baby either and that you will end up lumbered dealing with everything.

Pickled21 · 26/11/2024 19:26

You've set your bar really low. A bloke who drinks every night is not the right person to have a baby with.

PhoenixFireBum24 · 26/11/2024 19:28

He doesn't want to conceive as much as you do.
It does sound as though you blame him.
The amount of mcs you've had within such a short space of time must be taken its toll upon your lives.
Perhaps you need a break from TTC?

Thepeopleversuswork · 26/11/2024 19:29

There’s three separate issues here which are somewhat related but which you should consider separately:

a) whether his low sperm count is related to his drinking (we don’t know for sure: it seems reasonable but we don’t know)

b) whether he actually wants a baby and wants one enough to stop drinking - and the answer appears to be no

c) his drinking in general

I would decouple the question of whether the fertility issues are related to the drinking. You can’t be certain they are and you are painting yourself into a corner by pegging the drinking to TTC because you can’t prove a connection so he always has a loophole.

But I am sorry to say I wouldn’t want a live with someone who drinks every day anyway. It’s not a good life and if he does become a father he will prioritize alcohol over his kid.

i don’t think he’s father material.

Foxblue · 26/11/2024 19:29

I'm so sorry for your losses. But please, please stop and think about if its fair to have a baby with a man who obviously has a drinking problem. I know you really want a baby. But this isn't fair to a child, the big red flag is waving in your face here - some women never get a flag beforehand and end up kicking themselves over who they chose to have children with, and have to watch their children's lives be impacted by a crappy father - this red flag is a gift to you, to make sure you don't have children with someone who puts alcohol over fatherhood, over you, over a baby.

andthat · 26/11/2024 19:30

Pickled21 · 26/11/2024 19:26

You've set your bar really low. A bloke who drinks every night is not the right person to have a baby with.

Came on to say this.

Why are you even considering having a child with someone who either has a drink problem, or doesn’t care enough about you/your future child to change his behaviour?

Its not exactly a great start is it?

Sorry for your losses OP.

cheddercherry · 26/11/2024 19:30

However much of an issue this is now, it will be way way harder for you once you have a child with someone like this. Will he not drink on a Friday so he can give you a break and be up in the night with baby? No. Will he mind not drinking so much on the weekend so he can do things together as a family. No. Would be rather spend his evenings with a glass in hand over a storybook. Probably.

He can’t even put the IDEA of child first now and the fact that he could be putting you through more likely miscarriages and that’s not made him pause and stop is frankly, horrifying in a supposed potential father and partner.

DocileWimps · 26/11/2024 19:32

He definitely wants alcohol more than a baby.

That doesn't necessarily mean he is an alcoholic, but it probably means he doesn't want a baby or really doesn't mind if he has one or not.

Most men are not desperate to have a baby, but will go along with it and be good fathers (or not) when it happens. It sounds like yours is happy to let fate decide without any effort or sacrifice from himself. You won't change him.

You need to decide whether you want to stay with him and possibly never have a child, or leave him and find someone else to have a child with.

Jackie8787 · 26/11/2024 19:41

Thanks for all of your responses.
He was actually the one who wanted children before I was ready. When I felt ready, he was really happy. That’s why I can’t understand why he won’t give the no alcohol a try.
He doesn’t drink every night and doesn’t get drunk but i’d say on average he drinks 4 nights a week, sometimes less, sometimes more.
I just needed to hear other people’s thoughts as you start to question yourself.

OP posts:
Bearpawk · 26/11/2024 19:43

How much does he drink, those 4 nights per week?

Peachy2005 · 26/11/2024 19:44

I would be worried his genes may be sub-optimal (or a bad mix with yours) anyway, even without the drinking - and given that he refuses to prioritise you over his drinking already, I think you should cut your losses with him. If you are determined to stay with him, have you considered sperm donation? Best of luck xx

KarmenPQZ · 26/11/2024 19:46

playing devils advocate I wonder how he’d react if you suggested using a donor?

JoggyBear · 26/11/2024 19:48

You want to make a child with an alcoholic?
Why??

Jackie8787 · 26/11/2024 19:50

Bearpawk · 26/11/2024 19:43

How much does he drink, those 4 nights per week?

It changes and he has cut down slightly over the last few months, but average 4-5 beers. Sometimes it’s just 1 or 2, sometimes a glass or 2 of wine, sometimes a bottle.
It’s not really the amount that bothers me, it’s just the need to have some, to the point he can’t try cutting it out completely for a few months to see if it makes a difference.

OP posts: