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Conception

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Original poster

Alcohol consumption and fertility

20 replies

TryingInBerks · 27/06/2018 08:28

Hi
Has anyone been told by their doctor or fertility experts to reduce their alcohol in take to 0-5 units a week and found that it WORKED? Desperately TTC and am partial to a few wines. Have cut down but still averaging more than 5 units a week (that’s half a bottle)
Anyone got any stories or advice?
Thank you x

OP posts:
catlover1987 · 27/06/2018 08:36

Sorry, I don't have any advice as I had no luck TTC and am now pursuing adoption after 2 years of unexplained infertility.

However, I remember a conversation I had with the nurse at the fertility clinic who was aghast that I was drinking at all (literally the odd glass of wine or cocktail on a night out) and told me to cut it out completely. She was pretty horrible to be fair but I'm not sure if this is the advice that's being dished out now. Best of luck xx

DaisyMay25 · 27/06/2018 13:43

@TryingInBerks I haven't drank a single drop since November and I've had no luck DH has only had once pint in the past two months too. 🤷🏼‍♀️
I personally think half a bottle of wine in a week is barely anything.
Have you been told to stop that by a specialist or just seeing if it's the next step on your journey?
TTC can be hard and you shouldn't have to get rid of things you enjoy or you'll have an even harder time when you stare at a negative test.

bunchofdrapes · 27/06/2018 13:45

Are you asking if not drinking alcohol leads to successful pregnancies?

Original poster
TryingInBerks · 27/06/2018 13:54

Hi DaisyMay25,
Yes, we have been off contraception for nearly 2 years, and ‘properly’ trying for 6 months. Had all the tests and they found nothing wrong with us....the fertility doctor’s advice was 0-5 units a week but I have been going over that recently.
I was just wondering if the advice has any real evidence and merit?

OP posts:
Original poster
TryingInBerks · 27/06/2018 13:55

Bunchofdrapes - essentially yes

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DaisyMay25 · 27/06/2018 13:57

@TryingInBerks sadly I just think sometimes it's down to luck. I understand the thought of cutting things out to enhance your chances but you could still be trying a year down the line either way. I honestly don't think half a bottle of wine a week is enough to cut out, I could be very wrong but I don't think an amount that small will cause you not to conceive. You can even drink four units a week whilst pregnant...

79andnotout · 27/06/2018 14:18

I've cut it out but that's because it makes me depressed and anxious, and I don't need that with TTC.
However, if you're only drinking half a bottle of wine spread over the week, I can't imagine that doing any harm at all. I don't think that would be bad even if you were pregnant.

Original poster
TryingInBerks · 27/06/2018 14:58

I did cut down to half a bottle a week, but over the past few weeks that’s gone out the window!! I would do anything to conceive, but I guess I can’t fathom how alcohol can really effect it....

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Kismett · 27/06/2018 15:05

I just did a bit of googling and came across this study.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC28642/

It looks like they conclude that even moderate drinking could have an effect on fertility, but they also note studies that came to different conclusions.

Whereland · 27/06/2018 15:06

My GP told me I would need to be falling down drunk every night of the week for it to effect fertility. Not scientific but I needed her advice and continues to drink socially- did conceive in the end

Spam88 · 27/06/2018 15:09

I think the information on the NHS website (at least when I was ttc) is that there's no evidence of alcohol consumption affecting female fertility. There is evidence that it affects the success rate of IVF though (which kind of makes me think it could also affect natural conception?).

Original poster
TryingInBerks · 27/06/2018 15:23

I did some research too, and it seems you guys have come to the same conclusion....there IS not definitive answer! TTC is hard 😢

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Spam88 · 27/06/2018 15:24

I chose not to drink because I didn't want to drink during pregnancy, and that way I'd avoid drinking before I knew I was pregnant. Got through a lot of wine during my periods though 😂

BoBo90 · 27/06/2018 15:34

I'm not a drinker at all and it still took me 16 months to conceive so it didn't help me.
And there are so many stories of people conceiving during a drunken night of fun that if anything it probably helps 😂

Kismett · 27/06/2018 16:08

I don’t think that abstaining from alcohol would necessarily lead you to become pregnant, it’s more that drinking alcohol might lower the chances you already have.

Treaclepie19 · 27/06/2018 16:34

I don't think so. I conceived my son in December when I was the least careful with alcohol.
I'd sort of given up the health kick after miscarrying before.

Original poster
TryingInBerks · 27/06/2018 19:33

It feels nice to talk things out, thank you guys 😊

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hoping2018 · 28/06/2018 09:06

Hi @TryingInBerks the NICE guidelines are 1-2 units 1-2 times a week.

It took us two years and two cycles of ivf to conceive - I tried to stick to this but of course occasionally it went out the window and I tried not to beat myself up too much about if!

Good luck

Racecardriver · 28/06/2018 09:13

Well alcohol even is very small quantities can have very unpleasant effects on your body. You could try cutting out completely to see if it helps but if you are drinking anyway I don't see what different it makes whether you are having the units a week or six. I hope it works out for you in the end Flowers

Original poster
TryingInBerks · 28/06/2018 10:57

Thank you. I’m feeling a dry month or two!

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