Written by Melanie Brown BSc (Hons), MSc. Reviewed by Dr Katherine Joseph. (January 2026).

Melanie Brown, BSc (Hons) MSc, has been a nutritionist in the area of fertility and pregnancy for 20 years. She has a master’s degree in Nutritional Medicine, and a special interest in male infertility, endometriosis, PCOS and low ovarian reserve. She covers all aspects of fertility from IVF, advising on diet and lifestyle from pre-conception through to egg collection and embryo transfer, and then beyond to pregnancy. Her own experience of infertility, miscarriage and then early menopause at the age of 42, and her specialised knowledge of how IVF works, drug and nutrient interactions and a genuine empathy with her clients, gives her a unique ability to help her clients achieve their goal of having a baby. 

“Do I need to give up alcohol?”

This is one of my most frequently asked questions when I talk to my clients about how good nutrition can help both male and female fertility. Do I have to stop drinking? I feel very sympathetic here as I love my glass of wine at the end of a long week! And most of my clients are in their thirties and forties, and when you cannot drink at all, for whatever reason, it can be incredibly difficult for your social life and very annoying and often upsetting when people ask you if you are pregnant because you have refused a drink. 

Unfortunately, there are so many variables associated with drinking alcohol that the research is very difficult to do to ascertain exactly how much alcohol affects fertility. The type of alcohol, the strength, the amount, the frequency, whether you smoke as well, eat healthily, if the partner also drinks and how much are all important factors in determining cause and effect.

So, the short answer is:to be completely safe, if you are trying to conceive, the NHS recommend that women (note: nothing about men) should abstain altogether, as there is no set ‘safe’ limit; and women may become pregnant without realising, when the effects of alcohol may be more damaging to the developing foetus.

How does alcohol affect female fertility? 

Alcohol can affect ovulation, hormone balance and egg quality. Many women report increased sensitivity to alcohol, for example, when they are pre-menstrual. Studies have shown that heavy intake (defined as >6 drinks/week of alcoholic beverages) in the luteal phase and ovulatory sub-phase is associated with reduced odds of conception Moderate intake( defined as 3–6 drinks/week) during the luteal phase was also associated with reduced fertility.

• Hormonal imbalance, leading to irregular or absent ovulation can occur due to alcohol’s disruption of the hormonal control system (The HPO axis). This system regulates ovulation, and therefore, disruption of this can negatively impact ovulation.

• Reduced egg quality with frequent or heavy intake due to oxidative stress. Alcohol increases oxidative stress in the body, which in turn can damage eggs (which are highly sensitive, particularly in the 3-4 months they are maturing). 

• Lower chances of implantation. This is because alcohol increases inflammation in the body, therefore impacting endometrial receptivity to implantation. 

• Increased miscarriage risk and risk to the baby’s health once pregnant. Once pregnant, the impact of alcohol on hormonal balance, inflammation and oxidative stress, as previously mentioned, may pose a risk to the health of the embryo. It is important to note that there is no set safe volume of alcohol exposure during pregnancy. 

How does alcohol affect male fertility

Alcohol mainly interferes with hormones and sperm quality.

• Lower testosterone, can reduce sperm production due to disrupting the hormone control centre (HPO axis). Testosterone is key for the creation of sperm, so this in turn impacts male reproductive health.

• Poor sperm quality via lower count, reduced motility, increased abnormal shape. This is due to alcohol increasing oxidative stress in the body, which can damage sperm cells.

• DNA damage in sperm  can also be caused by oxidative stress in the body and may affect embryo development.

• Erectile and ejaculation issues with heavier drinking. With alcohol being a depressant that interferes with many processes in the body, this can lead to erectile dysfunction concerns.

Heavy or chronic drinking has the strongest effect, but even regular “moderate” regular drinking can subtly reduce sperm health.

Practical tips

• Avoid going out just for ‘drinks’ with no food

• Eat something before you are tempted to drink. 

• Seek out pubs and bars that do cater for non-drinkers .Avoid places that expect you to just have fizzy water or lime and soda all night.

• There are some excellent alcohol-free beers on the market like Zed Pale Ale, Lucky Saint Zero and Guinness Zero alcohol, for example. There are also many alcohol free ‘spirit’ alternatives, some nicer than others! Try putting some in your bag in a little bottle, then buying a tonic water and adding your ‘shot’.

My advice if you are actively trying to conceive, or preparing for IVF

• Women: Best option is avoiding alcohol altogether

• Men: Aim for minimal intake -ideally ≤1–2 drinks/week (remember: sperm takes ~3 months to regenerate, so habits now matter later

The reassuring part

• Fertility often improves within weeks to months after reducing alcohol, especially if you have been used to drinking regularly

• Occasional drinks during celebrations are unlikely to cause long-term harm

• Consistency matters more than perfection

Key Takeaways

• Research has shown that alcohol may impact female fertility through disrupting hormone signalling, raising inflammation, and increasing oxidative stress. All of these have a negative impact on the health of your eggs and general reproductive function. 

• The impacts of alcohol are not isolated to women; male fertility can be negatively impacted by alcohol via lowering testosterone, damaging sperm cells, and potentially causing erectile dysfunction. 

• It can be really difficult to reduce or remove alcohol from your life. But I find it easier to tell my clients to think of alcohol reduction as part of a project; it is not going to be forever, and you will feel all the better for it.