Should you worry about drinking when you’re trying to conceive? Experts say yes. Here’s how alcohol affects fertility and what to know when you’re trying for a baby.
If you’re trying to get pregnant, you probably have a list of must-dos to boost your chances of conception, from having sex more often to eating well to limiting stress.
But what about alcohol? Do you really have to worry about drinking?
According to functional medicine practitioner and fertility educator Kathryn Moloney, alcohol doesn’t just affect the liver, it also directly impacts reproductive hormones, sperm health, egg quality and the body’s stress response – all of which are central to conception.
Here’s what the science says about alcohol and fertility.
How alcohol affects hormones
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Alcohol and female hormones
Fertility dietitian Dr Shy Vishnumohan says she often sees alcohol being overlooked in the preconception phase.
“Alcohol is so normalised that people forget it’s biologically active,” Dr Vishnumohan says.
“It is not just a drink with empty calories – it can nudge hormones, sleep and inflammation in the wrong direction for fertility.”
“Even at moderate levels, alcohol can negatively affect female hormones,” Moloney adds.
She notes that early observational studies show alcohol increases circulating estrogen levels.
“While estrogen is essential, consistently elevated levels – or elevations at the wrong time of the cycle – can disrupt reproductive balance and increase breast cancer risk in some people,” Moloney says.
Melbourne fertility physician Dr Lynn Burmeister says the hormones responsible for ovulation can also be impacted by alcohol.
“These hormones – including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), estrogen and progesterone – can be disrupted by alcohol, leading to irregular ovulation or changes to the length of the menstrual cycle,” Dr Burmeister says.
“Fertility is not just about achieving a pregnancy, but supporting healthy early development, and alcohol can influence this even before you find out you’re pregnant.”
In women, alcohol can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis – the communication pathway between the brain and ovaries – which regulates reproductive hormones, and research shows this disruption is linked with ovulatory problems.
“Think of fertility hormones like a Wi-Fi signal between your brain and your ovaries,” Dr Vishnumohan explains.
“Alcohol doesn’t always shut the system down – but it can create interference, making the signal weaker or less consistent.”
Alcohol and male hormones
According to Dr Burmeister, alcohol can lower testosterone levels and increase estrogen levels in men.
“It has also been associated with reduced sperm count, poorer motility and increased sperm DNA damage,” she says.
“Sperm takes around three months to develop, so alcohol consumed today can affect sperm quality several months later.”
Add Moloney: “In my clinic, I often see that if a man already has low testosterone, borderline sperm count, or elevated DNA fragmentation, alcohol can exacerbate those vulnerabilities.” But thankfully, there’s a silver lining.
“The male preconception window is relatively short compared to pregnancy and breastfeeding, and even a focused three-month period of reduced or eliminated alcohol can meaningfully improve sperm health and potentially reduce the time to conception,” Moloney says.
Alcohol and fertility outcomes
The experts agree: Alcohol affects fertility at multiple levels, disrupting ovulation, contributing to luteal phase dysfunction, reducing sperm count and motility, increasing sperm DNA damage, and driving broader hormonal dysregulation.
“Some research suggests a substantial reduction in the likelihood of conception in cycles with higher levels of alcohol consumption, particularly with moderate to heavy intake,” Moloney says.
She explains that alcohol increases oxidative stress, which damages egg and sperm DNA and affects the integrity of the genetic material involved in conception.
“From a biological perspective, alcohol affects hormone balance, egg and sperm quality, and causes oxidative stress – but whether that translates into reduced fertility depends on the individual’s personal context,” Moloney says.
“Fertility is about the biological margin. If someone already has reduced ovarian reserve or compromised sperm health, alcohol can narrow that margin further.”
Is there a ‘safe’ amount of alcohol for fertility?
“There is no clearly established safe amount of alcohol when trying to conceive,” Dr Burmeister says.
“From a medical perspective, the safest and healthiest approach when you’re trying to conceive and during pregnancy is to avoid alcohol altogether.”
When it comes to fertility, alcohol doesn’t have a proven upside, Moloney adds.
“The evidence-based approach I use in clinical practice is that once couples are actively trying to conceive, alcohol intake should be minimised, ideally for at least three months prior to conception attempts,” Moloney says.
“That timeframe reflects the full sperm development cycle and supports the final stages of egg maturation in women.
“As I often say, ‘less is best’ when it comes to alcohol while trying to conceive, but it also needs to be sustainable and aligned with the individual’s capacity.”
Alcohol, stress and cortisol – what’s the connection?
“Acute alcohol intake increases cortisol (stress hormone) levels, while chronic alcohol intake dysregulates cortisol, (and) alcohol withdrawal further disrupts stress hormone patterns,” Moloney says.
“Persistently elevated cortisol suppresses key fertility hormones, including LH, progesterone and testosterone.
“In women, this can impair ovulation and implantation. In men, it can reduce testosterone production and negatively affect sperm quality.”
She adds that stress increases oxidative stress and inflammation, which directly impact egg and sperm health.
“Alcohol often feels like stress relief, but physiologically, it often amplifies the stress response,” Moloney notes.
Can you drink if you’re trying to conceive?
“With awareness and intention,” Moloney says.
“The preconception period is not just a waiting phase; it’s a preparation phase – a time to shape the internal environment that supports egg and sperm health and creates the healthiest possible foundation for pregnancy.”
A focused three-month period of reduced or eliminated alcohol supports sperm development and the final stages of egg maturation, she says, but any change needs to be realistic.
“If complete abstinence creates additional stress, that stress must be addressed because stress itself impacts reproductive hormones,” Moloney explains.
For those undergoing assisted reproductive technology such as IVF (in vitro fertilisation), Dr Vishnumohan says the stakes can feel even higher.
“IVF is expensive and emotionally exhausting – alcohol is one lever you can actually control in the lead-up,” Dr Vishnumohan adds.
What other changes can improve your chance of conception?
Dr Burmeister says in addition to limiting alcohol, couples who are trying to conceive should focus on the following:
- Prioritise 7-9 hours of quality sleep
- Eat a nutrient-dense diet, rich in protein, healthy fats and antioxidants
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Exercise regularly to help manage stress
- Avoid smoking
- Limit ultra-processed foods and excessive caffeine
- Avoid plastics, especially in food preparation
