Drinking While Trying to Conceive: Should You Do It?

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We all know popping bottles while you’re pregnant is a no-no, but there are a lot of questions around how it impacts fertility. It begs the question: can alcohol negatively impact a person’s ability to conceive?

Do I Need to Stop Drinking While Trying to Conceive?

Because of that uncertainty, the easiest answer to whether you should drink while trying to conceive is that it’s best to avoid it.

The Case for Avoiding Alcohol While TTC

According to the Alcohol Pharmacology Education Partnership with Duke University, even one instance of binge drinking (defined as four or more drinks at a time) during early pregnancy may cause the negative effects often attributed to FAS, such as mental and physical abnormalities, in some pregnancies. 

The Case for Continuing Healthy Recreational Alcohol Consumption While TTC

If trying to conceive, doctors often say to stick to one drink per evening, or if you’re at an event where you would generally drink multiple drinks, spread your consumption out over hours, and don’t finish more than 2 drinks in 4-5 hours.

Can Drinking Cause Infertility?

One of the most common questions fertility specialists hear is: will drinking while trying to conceive make the situation worse? The answer? It depends on how much alcohol you’re consuming.

What about Men? Is Male Drinking While Trying to Conceive Bad?

Male drinking while trying to conceive is a common factor in issues with sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. While occasionally imbibing in a beer or cocktail isn’t likely to cause a problem, men who participate in binge drinking or excessive drinking could struggle with conception.

Does the Type of Alcohol You’re Drinking Make a Difference?

Whether you’re drinking wine while trying to conceive or taking shots of Patron, alcohol is alcohol at the end of the day. It all comes with the same level of risk.

What About Caffeine? Is Drinking Coffee While Trying to Conceive a No-No?

Research shows women who drink three or more cups of coffee a day are at risk for a higher chance of miscarriage.

Faking Everyone Out: Hiding Your “Drinking” While TTC

Something to remember, though, is that you don’t HAVE to give an excuse about why you’re not drinking. It’s okay to drink a Sprite or Ginger Ale and just roll with it.

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Worry-Free Pregnancy Guide

(Beneficial for all anxious expecting moms, but originally created for moms experiencing pregnancy after loss. 4 exercises I've developed with my therapist during pregnancy after loss, plus monthly calendars and mood trackers to help you monitor your progress and find important patterns)