Drinking and Smoking Increases the Danger of Disability for Your Baby

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
can lead to developmental issues
such as aso learning disabilities or
growth deficiencies.

The Detrimental Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Female and Male Fertility

It would seem that it is common knowledge, that if a couple are trying to conceive then it would be wise to abstain from consuming alcohol completely. Numerous studies have proven that consumption of large quantities of alcohol has a very negative and damaging effect on the couple's fertility.

Surprisingly, there are many individuals and couples who are oblivious to alcohol's deterimental impact on fertility. Linda and Tim are a couple in their early thirties, they have been regular and heavy consumers of alcohol and cigarettes since their teenage years. They have been married for four years and have been trying to conceive for two and a half years. Tim is a fly in-fly out worker leaving Linda at home to find her own company for five weeks at a time, hence the partying and heavy drinking continues with her friends. Once Tim returns home the couple go on holidays and drink excessively at an overseas resort. Linda laments that she has difficulty to conceive. At this stage, it is not surprising why Linda and Tim have not acheived their goal of pregnancy.

When Linda and Tim attended a FertilityCare appointment at El'ohim Clinic, she stated that she eats fresh fruit and vegetables daily and exercises on a regular basis, so in her opinion she was living a "healthy lifestyle". Linda was very surprised when they were informed that their heavy drinking and chain smoking contributed to their infertility issues. Linda stated, "I didn't know that, why didn't anyone tell me earlier?".

Studies have proven that excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a multitude of ovulatory dysfunctions. It can affect a woman's ability to menstruate, ovulate and affects her ability to produce fertile cervical mucus, which is a vital factor for conception.
Medical specialists have warned women who are trying to conceive or are already pregnant to abstain from alcohol consumption. This is a preventative measure to protect the unborn baby developing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, which can lead to development issues such as learning disabilities, damage to the central nervous system, growth deficiencies. Other negative effects include an increased risk of premature birth and miscarriages.

For males, research has evidenced that the quality, quantity and mobility of sperm is significantly inferior for regular consumers of alcohol compared to their peers who completly abstain. Consumption of alcohol has also been shown to inhibit the body's absorption of nutrients such as zinc, which is one of the most important minerals for male fertility.

Linda and Tim in additional to their FertilityCare appointments also commenced Lifestyle Assessment sessions, which gave them a holistic overview of their fertility issues and lifestyle. They were advised to eat specific fertility foods, modify their sleep routine, learned how to remove unnecessary stress when counselled and obviously they were advised to eliminate alcohol and cigarette consumption. To be honest it was not an easy process, there was initial resistance when they were instructed to completely give up their unhealthy lifestyle. However, as time passed they found their change in lifestyle much easier and their fertility improved. Today they have a healthy one year old boy and Linda states that "It was a life changing event, not only did we conceive our beautiful boy but we learned information that helped us to have better general health".

To conclude, El'ohim Clinic strongly recommends that when couples are attempting to conceive it would be wise to abstain from alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine or any other negative external factors that could hinder their chances of falling pregnant.

I wish you good health of body, mind and spirit.