Several factors affect fertility, and alcohol and smoking are among them. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco not only negatively affect overall health, but they can also interfere with conception.
Are there safe doses of alcohol?
We don’t know the exact amount of alcohol that would be harmless for expectant mothers [1]. The conclusions of scientists on this issue are ambiguous, so doctors advise women to stay away from wine, beer, hard liquor, and all alcoholic beverages[2], both in the planning stages and after successfully becoming pregnant.
Heavy drinking may diminish a woman’s ovarian reserve, contribute to menstrual cycle disorders, negatively affect how female hormones work, and suppress ovulation [3]. All of which can ultimately reduce fertility and the chances of successful conception.
If a woman continues to drink regularly during pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage and premature birth increases, as well as the likelihood of her baby having fetal alcohol syndrome (a serious disorder that causes delays in physical and mental development) [4].
In men, alcohol can impair sperm motility and number, decrease testosterone levels (the main male hormone), lead to sexual dysfunction, difficulties with ejaculation, and even testicular atrophy [2, 5]. These are of concern among men who drink often and in considerable quantities. Regardless of amounts and frequency, when it comes to alcohol and the quest to conceive and have a healthy child, the odds are better if both parents stay away from alcohol.
Can cigarettes reduce the chances of successful conception?
Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 ingredients (including nicotine, resins, carbon monoxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals), many of which are toxic to both female and male germ cells.
Smokers have reduced fertility and poorer egg quality. It is also more difficult for them to track ovulation, and they are more likely to experience infertility in general [3, 6]. Even in the case of successful conception, women who smoke have a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy, premature birth, and miscarriage [7].
Men who smoke may suffer from disruptions to their hormonal system, the quality of their sperm can deteriorate (in all respects), the vessels in their penis can be damaged, and they may have issues with erection [3, 7, 8].
Smoking also affects the results of assisted reproductive technologies. If one or both partners smoke, they may need more attempts to achieve successful conception with IVF (in vitro fertilization) or ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) [9].
