Alcohol and IVF

[DevonDancer]

Hi,

My boyfriend and I have been TTC for three years. We are due to start IVF in the next couple of months but I just wanted some advice.

We went on holiday for a couple of weeks and did drink quite a bit (3ish drinks per day). As soon as we came back we’ve cut down and not really drinking at all.

I was thinking we would be doing IVF in September which gives us 90 days to not drink and improve egg/sperm quality but the nurse today said we might be doing the treatment in August now which would only be 60 days. I’m 40 in September for context.

Would you wait until September to give yourself the full 90 days with no alcohol or would you crack on in August?

I don't know what I would do
It isn't my life.
You need to be confident in your own decision.

But I do know the nurse says you might be doing it in august
So you might not. Make the decision when you know for sure.And best of luck.

if it were me, I'd be thinking that maybe one week in three months isn't terrible, and (to my previous level of drinking) 3 a day on a lovely holiday doesn't sound like that much? Obvs you don't want any regrets, but you'd be chosing to be a month older, and god knows what else could come up that means delaying longer. I'm also 40 at the end of the year, and am just at tail end of 3rd round of IVF. There are so so many variables affecting what will result each month, and also random selection. Who's to say (despite a bit of alcohol) that what your body selects in august will be better in september. Also... your eggs have benefited from a week of relaxation! I bet if you were to talk to one of the clinic nurses they'd not bat an eye, especially it not being right before treatment. Alllso (sorry this is getting quite long) if you're on long protocol thats a whole extra month of waiting/not drinking.

Interested in this. From what friends who have had ivf have told me, my instinct would be go ahead and do it in August?

I am also about to start ivf in next few and have been having 1-2 drinks once a week… a doctor told me that was fine for now. (I did have more at a big event though- and felt a bit guilty). It’s hard when you don’t know when it will start!

Exciting you are starting in August. Good luck with it x

It’s always best to ask your doctor. There are different approaches — some doctors recommend completely avoiding alcohol at least three months before trying to conceive or starting IVF, while others say an occasional drink is fine.

Thank you everyone for replying. It’s really appreciated and super helpful. I think I’ll probably just go with it and if it comes in August, then that was the time for me. As @nosejug says - there’s so many variables!

I had a few nights out (spaced over a couple of months) before my second round in March, in fact, I caught up with friends the weekend before my cycle started as I thought I had an extra month but things changed and I started sooner than I thought and everything was fine, it's probably best to avoid if possible but I was also fed up of putting my life on hold at every occasion, I've done that for 3 years and it hasn't helped so I may as well enjoy life! I now have 10 healthy looking blasts in the freezer now and due transfer next week! :) best of luck! X