Alcohol is a common part of social life, but many people have questions about how drinking may affect fertility. One common question is whether alcohol can affect egg quality or egg count, especially when preparing for egg freezing. While we know that alcohol should be avoided completely during pregnancy, the effects of alcohol on fertility and egg freezing are less clear.
How Does Alcohol Affect the Body?
The alcohol found in drinks is called ethanol. After you drink alcohol, it is primarily processed by your digestive system and liver. While small amounts can generally be processed by the body, larger amounts of alcohol can affect many different organs and body systems.
When it comes to the ovaries and developing eggs, however, the relationship is less clear. Because most alcohol is processed by the gut and liver, only a small amount reaches the ovaries.
Can Alcohol Affect Your Egg Count?
There is limited research specifically looking at drinking alcohol and egg freezing. One small study comparing people who drank alcohol with those who did not while undergoing egg freezing found no significant difference in the number of eggs retrieved.
Based on the limited evidence available, occasional, moderate drinking, such as 1–3 drinks in an evening, does not appear to have a clear effect on the number of eggs retrieved.
However, this does not mean that alcohol has no effect on fertility. More research is needed to fully understand how different levels and patterns of alcohol consumption may affect reproductive health.
What About Heavy or Frequent Drinking?
There is much less research on heavy or frequent alcohol consumption, including drinking four or more drinks in an evening or drinking daily or almost every day.
One study from Michigan found that women who reported binge drinking four or more drinks in an evening at least twice a week had a 26% lower measure of ovarian reserve. However, other lifestyle factors may have contributed to this finding, so it is difficult to determine whether alcohol itself was responsible.
Because the research is limited and alcohol is considered a toxic substance at any amount that can have negative effects on overall health, it is best to minimize alcohol consumption, particularly when preparing for an egg freezing cycle.
Does Alcohol Increase the Risk of Ovarian Cancer?
Researchers have also studied whether drinking is linked to ovarian cancer. So far, studies have not clearly established that alcohol increases the risk of ovarian cancer.
Should You Avoid Alcohol Before Egg Freezing?
If you are preparing to freeze your eggs, avoiding drinking altogether is the most cautious approach. However, based on the limited research available, occasional moderate drinking does not appear to have a clear effect on egg count or egg-freezing outcomes and alcohol can still be enjoyed in small quantities when preparing for an upcoming egg freezing cycle. As always, your fertility provider can give you personalized guidance based on your health and treatment plan.
Dr. Alexander Kotlyar is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at Pinnacle Fertility. His clinical interests include endometriosis, reproductive surgery, recurrent pregnancy loss, and recurrent implantation failure, and his research has been recognized by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Kotlyar is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care and partnering with patients to create personalized fertility treatment plans.
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