alcohol and TTC - how long does it take to not incur side affects?

[busylady]

hi there

i drink quite a bit - over 20 units a week and just wondered if i stop drinking how long will it take for it not to have had an effect on TTC - does that make sense?

Basically, are there long term TTC side effects from drinking or does it rectify pretty quickly?

ta x

Do you mean will it stop you conceiving? If that was true no-one would need contraception.

it just seems that everything you read has a reference to alcohol:n i'm over 30 and have been told that it has a greater effect at that age...

In women, alcohol affects fecundability, by disrupting the delicate balance of the menstrual cycle. Clinical research data published in the ?British Medical Journal? suggests that women, who drank socially, 1-5 drinks per week, were at a greater risk of decreased fecundability when compared to women who remained abstinent. These findings underscore the importance of remaining abstinent while attempting to conceive.

Alcohol disrupts the hormonal imbalance of the female reproductive system, leading to menstrual irregularities, and even anovulatory cycles, (menstrual cycles where ovulation fails to occur). These changes can drastically decrease a woman?s chance of becoming pregnant and thus affect fertility.

at the risk of sounding like an utter utter fool (and because I am far too bloody lazy to go and get my dictionary).....

er..... wot is fecundability?

I don't know either number four. Busylady - if I were you I'd stop googling and if you are worried cut down your intake. Many, many people conceive without stopping drinking however as something like 50% of all pgs are unplanned. In fact alcohol is also the cause of many pregnancies!