10/12/2025
Research has revealed that men should abstain from alcohol for at least 3 months before trying to conceive to improve s***m quality and fertility outcomes and to reduce the risk of birth defects and other health issues in their offspring. Paternal drinking, particularly in the weeks or months before IVF treatment, has also been linked to a higher risk of miscarriage!!!
To elaborate, alcohol consumption negatively affects s***m production and health in several ways, with heavy chronic drinking being the most damaging. Studies show that men who consume more than 5 alcoholic drinks per week have a lower total s***m count and concentration.
Alcohol impairs a s***m cell’s ability to swim properly, making it more difficult for it to reach and fertilize an egg. Heavy drinkers are also more likely to have abnormally shaped s***m (poor morphology), which also reduces fertilization chances. Alcohol can also cause DNA damage in s***m cells through oxidative stress, leading to genetic issues and birth defects. Research has also found that alcohol disrupts DNA methylation in s***m, which can alter how genes are expressed in the resulting embryo.
Paternal drinking before conception has also been linked to increased risks for the baby, even if the father stops drinking right before the pregnancy occurs. Fathers who drink in the months before conception have a significantly higher risk of having a baby born with a congenital heart defect.
This risk is even greater for binge drinkers. Emerging research suggests that male alcohol consumption can increase the risk of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (previously blamed solely on a woman’s alcohol use during pregnancy) and other alcohol-related developmental problems, such as facial defects and brain abnormalities. A 2022 study found an association between paternal preconception alcohol consumption and an increased risk of behavioral issues in children, including anxiety, sleep problems and rule-breaking behaviors.
PMID: 35010587
