Alcohol and the Female Reproductive System – Alcohol markedly disrupts normal menstrual cycling in female humans and rats. Alcoholic women are known to have a variety of menstrual and reproductive disorders, from irregular menstrual cycles to complete cessation of menses, absence of ovulation (i.e., anovulation), and infertility (reviewed in Mello et al.1993 ).
- Alcohol abuse has also been associated with early menopause ( Mello et al.1993 ).
- However, alcoholics often have other health problems such as liver disease and malnutrition, so reproductive deficits may not be directly related to alcohol use.
- In human females, alcohol ingestion, even in amounts insufficient to cause major damage to the liver or other organs, may lead to menstrual irregularities ( Ryback 1977 ).
It is important to stress that alcohol ingestion at the wrong time, even in amounts insufficient to cause permanent tissue damage, can disrupt the delicate balance critical to maintaining human female reproductive hormonal cycles and result in infertility.
- A study of healthy nonalcoholic women found that a substantial portion who drank small amounts of alcohol (i.e., social drinkers) stopped cycling normally and became at least temporarily infertile.
- This anovulation was associated with a reduced or absent pituitary LH secretion.
- All the affected women had reported normal menstrual cycles before the study ( Mendelson and Mello 1988 ).
This finding is consistent with epidemiologic data from a representative national sample of 917 women, which showed increased rates of menstrual disturbances and infertility associated with increasing self-reported alcohol consumption ( Wilsnack et al.1984 ).
Thus, alcohol-induced disruption of female fertility is a clinical problem that merits further study. Several studies in both rats and monkeys have demonstrated alcohol-induced reproductive disruptions similar to those seen in humans. These studies have provided some information on how both acute and chronic alcohol exposure can alter the animals’ reproductive systems.
For example, acute alcohol exposure in female rats has been found to disrupt female cycling ( LaPaglia et al.1997 ). Acute alcohol exposure given as a bolus (i.e., an injection of a high dose) to mimic binge drinking has been reported to disrupt the normal cycle at the time of exposure, with a return to normal by the following cycle ( Alfonso et al.1993 ).
A study of female rats fed alcohol or a control diet for 17 weeks starting at young adulthood (comparable in age to a 21-year-old woman) found that alcohol did not lead to anovulation but rather to irregular ovulation ( Krueger et al.1983 ; Emanuele et al.2001 ). Other investigators ( Gavaler et al.1980 ), however, have reported that the ovaries of alcohol-exposed female rats were infantile, showing no evidence of ovulation at all, and uteri appeared completely estrogen deprived.
The different outcomes described in these studies may be attributable to the different strains of rats used. It should be noted, however, that if enough alcohol is given, cyclicity can be completely abolished, as demonstrated in dose-response studies (i.e., studies that examined the varying responses to increasing doses of alcohol) ( Cranston 1958 ; Eskay et al.1981 ; Rettori et al.1987 ).
Recently investigators have provided several insights into the possible mechanisms underlying alcohol’s disruption of the female cycle in the rat model. First, research shows that alcohol-fed rats have a temporary elevation of estradiol ( Emanuele et al.2001 ). Human studies have produced similar findings ( Mello et al.1993 ).
The effects of estrogen on reproductive cyclicity are complex. In some situations, estrogen stimulates the hypothalamic–pituitary unit ( Tang et al.1982 ); in other situations, it is inhibitory. This short-term elevation in estradiol may be part of the mechanism underlying the alcohol-induced alterations in estrous cycling.
- Second, alcohol consumption temporarily increases testosterone levels ( Sarkola et al.2001 ).
- Because testosterone is a well-known suppressor of the hypothalamic–pituitary unit, an increase in testosterone could therefore disturb normal female cycling.
- Third, both acute and chronic alcohol treatments have been shown to decrease levels of IGF–1 in the bloodstream.
This is potentially relevant, because IGF–1, in addition to its well-known effects in promoting some of the growth effects of GH, has reproductive effects as well ( Mauras et al.1996 ). Specifically, IGF–1 has been shown to evoke LHRH release in female rats, as demonstrated by Hiney and colleagues (1991, 1996) both in animal studies and in tissue culture studies.
Contents
- 1 Can alcohol cause a hormonal imbalance?
- 2 Does alcohol destroy estrogen?
- 3 Which alcohol is best for hormones?
- 4 What happens to face when you stop drinking?
- 5 Can alcohol affect your menstrual cycle?
Can alcohol cause a hormonal imbalance?
Alcohol’s Effects on the HPG Axis – Numerous studies have documented alcohol’s diverse deleterious effects on the HPG axis and its hormones ( figure 2 ). The resulting HPG dysfunction observed in people with AUD can be associated with diverse outcomes, including a decreased libido, infertility, and gonadal atrophy. Alcohol’s effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. Neurons in the hypothalamus release luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone (LHRH) to the hypophyseal-portal blood system. LHRH then stimulates the secretion of gonadotropins (i.e., LH and FSH).
- During the ovary’s follicular phase, FSH stimulates the development of a dominant follicle, which produces and secretes estradiol.
- Estradiol then stimulates an LH and FSH surge during midcycle of the menstrual cycle.
- LH stimulates ovulation and the development of the corpus luteum, which then produces and secretes progesterone.
In the testis, LH stimulates testosterone production and release, while FSH controls spermatogenesis. HPG axis function is controlled through feedback loop mechanisms. Testosterone inhibits LHRH, LH, and FSH secretion through negative feedback, whereas estradiol and progesterone both can have negative- and positive-feedback actions, depending on the stage of the ovarian cycle, and can inhibit or stimulate the release of LHRH, LH, and FSH.
- Acute alcohol exposure results in increased LHRH, LH, FSH, and estradiol and decreased testosterone and progesterone.
- Chronic alcohol exposure, in contrast, induces a decrease in LHRH, LH, testosterone, and progesterone and an increase in estradiol and FSH.
- These alcohol-induced hormonal dysregulations cause a multitude of reproductive disorders, such as menstrual cycle irregularity, decreased fertility, and hypogonadism.
In women, alcohol use can cause a multitude of reproductive disorders, such as irregular menstrual cycles, absence of ovulation (i.e., anovulation), increased risk of spontaneous abortions, and early menopause. Alcohol intake, even as little as five drinks per week, was associated with decreased fecundability in healthy women ages 20–35 ( Jensen et al.1998 ).
Other studies ( Mendelson et al.1988 ) found that 50 percent of social (i.e., about 3.84 drinks per day) and 60 percent of heavy (i.e., about 7.81 drinks per day) healthy, nondependent drinkers exhibited significant disturbances of their reproductive hormones and menstrual cycle compared with occasional drinkers (i.e., about 1.22 drinks per day).
In addition, social drinkers had anovulatory cycles, and 3 of 5 heavy drinkers exhibited excessive levels of prolactin in the blood (i.e., hyperprolactinemia) ( Mendelson et al.1988 ). Studies have shown that alcohol intake consistently induces an increase in estradiol levels in humans ( Mendelson and Mello 1988 ; Muti et al.1998 ) and rodents ( Emanuele et al.2001 a ), possibly as a result of decreased steroid catabolism ( Sarkola et al.1999 ).
These increased estradiol levels could in part explain alcohol’s negative effects on menstrual cycle regularity. Moreover, chronic alcohol has inhibitory actions on LHRH-producing neurons. Thus, exposure to 100 mM ethanol directly inhibited LHRH release from incubated medial basal hypothalamic sections, and this effect was reversed by naltrexone ( Lomniczi et al.2000 ).
These results suggest that alcohol’s effect on LHRH release involves the stimulation of BEP-releasing neurons, which prevent LHRH release by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase. Other studies have shown that long-term moderate alcohol consumption can decrease the number and quality of a woman’s oocytes (i.e., ovarian reserve), which was associated with increased FSH levels ( Li et al.2013 ).
- Extensive research in animals and humans also has documented the deleterious effects of alcohol on male reproductive function, including reduced testosterone levels ( figure 2 ).
- Acute alcohol intake decreased the circulating levels of LH and testosterone as a result of diminished release of hypothalamic LHRH ( Cicero et al.1982 ; Dees et al.1983 ; Rowe et al.1974 ).
In contrast, chronic alcohol consumption significantly increased FSH, LH, and estrogen levels but decreased testosterone and progesterone levels in men with AUD compared with men without AUD ( Muthusami and Chinnaswamy 2005 ). The AUD group also had significantly lower semen volume, sperm count, motility, and number of morphologically normal sperm ( Muthusami and Chinnaswamy 2005 ).
The activity of the enzyme aromatase, which converts androgens to estrogens, especially in the liver, is increased by ethanol ( Purohit 2000 ). This mechanism may explain why alcohol abuse results in hypogonadism even in the absence of liver disease. In men with AUD and cirrhosis, a decrease in IGF-1 bioavailability as a result of liver disease contributes at least in part to the elevated circulating levels of estradiol and estrone ( Martinez-Riera et al.1995 ) and the development of hypogonadism ( Castilla-Cortazar et al.2000 ) since IGF-1 can stimulate testosterone synthesis and spermatogenesis ( Roser 2008 ). ROS produced during alcohol metabolism may cause cell damage in the testes ( Emanuele et al.2001 b ). The testicular alcohol-inducible cytochrome P450 2E1, which is involved in the generation of ROS as well as hydroxyl ethyl free radicals, was shown to be elevated in testes of rats chronically exposed to ethanol ( Shayakhmetova et al.2013 ). The alcohol metabolite acetaldehyde can disrupt testosterone production by inhibiting protein kinase C, a key enzyme in testosterone synthesis ( Chiao and Van Thiel 1983 ). Nitric oxide, which is synthesized in the testes by nitric oxide synthase, is another proposed player in the alcohol-induced reduction of testosterone production. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase prevents the alcohol-induced decrease in testosterone ( Adams et al.1992 ).
Does alcohol increase estrogen in females?
Alcohol, estrogen and breast cancer risk – Alcohol can change the way a woman’s body metabolizes estrogen (how estrogen works in the body). This can cause blood estrogen levels to rise. Estrogen levels are higher in women who drink alcohol than in non-drinkers, Higher estrogen levels are in turn, linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, Learn more about estrogen and breast cancer risk,
Does alcohol destroy estrogen?
Starting with the classics ; Oestrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone – Oestrogen is probably the hormone you know best, and it plays an important role in many elements of your health. Oestrogen plays a key role in the regulation of your menstrual cycle, alongside its partner, progesterone,
- Finally, Testosterone, typically associated with male sexual development and fertility, but plays an important role within your health ( hello libido! ).
- Alcohol consumption is known to affect the levels of oestrogen and progesterone significantly.
- Acute consumption of alcohol has been shown to increase oestrogen levels (2).
Alcohol does this by slowing down the breakdown of oestrogen in your liver and upregulating the conversion of testosterone to oestrogen (3). In this way, alcohol positively affects oestrogen levels, which you assume would be a good thing right? It’s true, oestrogen is an important hormone involved in things such as maintaining bone density and skin health.
However, increased oestrogen levels for long periods of time is also associated with breast cancer development in women (2). In fact, the United Kingdom Million Women Study showed that every additional drink per day contributed to 11 breast cancers per 1,000 women up to age 75 (4). Alcohol may have opposing effects on progesterone.
Moderate alcohol consumption is linked to impaired progesterone production (3,5) possibly due to its effect on the liver. There is also some evidence that moderate alcohol consumption may increase testosterone levels and sex hormone-binding globulin levels (6,7).
How long does it take for hormones to balance after alcohol?
How long it takes for your hormones to balance after quitting alcohol depends on your drinking habits at the moment you quit. The good news is, your body starts its detox process as soon as you stop. Within a few weeks, most moderate drinkers should see overall health improvements, including positive impacts on hormone levels.
How long does it take for hormones to regulate after quitting drinking?
This adjustment period will continue for months to come and get easier over time, but the initial stages of withdrawal should be finished within one to two weeks of your last drink.
What happens to your hormones when you stop drinking?
Alcohol and Progesterone – Progesterone and alcohol tolerance are just the start. Did you know that the consumption of alcohol has quite a complex interaction with the body? Classified as a depressant, the intake of alcohol interacts with the nervous system causing parts of the brain to slow down,
- This interaction consequently leads to affecting other areas of the body’s functioning such as altering hormone levels.
- Alcohol and progesterone are related in the sense that alcohol consumption is associated with increasing the levels of estrogen in the body and decreasing levels of progesterone.
- After quitting alcohol, how long it takes for hormones in the body to balance will differ from person to person as it depends on how long and how often a person has used alcohol.
However, studies have shown that after quitting alcohol, it may take months or even years for your body’s hormone levels to readjust. Even then, some damage caused may be permanent.
Which alcohol has the most estrogen?
Results – For all the hormones and other proteins examined, the levels changed as would be expected if the congeners contained biologically active phytoestrogens (see figures 4 and 5, p.225) ( Gavaler et al.1995 a ). Thus, the levels of FSH and LH decreased, with trough levels significantly lower than baseline levels.
- Conversely, the levels of prolactin, HDL cholesterol, and SHBG increased during the study period and reached peak levels that were significantly higher than the baseline levels.
- The women’s weights did not change over the study period.
- In addition, following the recovery period of 1 week, the levels of all five markers returned to values that did not differ significantly from baseline levels.
No statistically significant differences existed in the estrogenic effects of the various congener concentrates. Effects of alcoholic beverage congeners on (A) follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and (B) luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in postmenopausal women. For 4 weeks, the women consumed congener amounts corresponding to those present in one standard drink of the beverage daily. Basal hormone levels were determined before the women began the experiment. Trough levels represent the lowest hormone levels that were detected during the 4-week administration period of alcoholic beverage congeners. Recovery levels were determined 1 week after the last ingestion of congeners. All congeners had estrogenlike effects (i.e., resulted in lower FSH and LH levels). The effects of the various congeners did not differ significantly. NOTE: The wide bars represent mean values, whereas the narrow brackets represent the standard error of the mean. A star above a bar indicates a significant difference from basal levels as determined by paired T-test ( p < 0.025). The differences in baseline levels result from variations in the mean levels of the subjects in the various groups. IU/L = International units per liter. Effects of alcoholic beverage congeners on the levels of (A) prolactin (Prl), (B) high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and (C) sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in postmenopausal women. For 4 weeks, the women consumed congener amounts corresponding to those present in one standard drink of the beverage daily.
Basal hormone levels were determined before the women began the experiment. Peak levels represent the highest hormone levels that were detected during the 4-week administration period of alcoholic beverage congeners. Recovery levels were determined 1 week after the last ingestion of congeners. All congeners had estrogenlike effects (i.e., resulted in elevated levels of Prl, HDL cholesterol, and SHBG).
The effects of the various congeners did not differ significantly.
Can alcohol affect your breasts?
Home / News / item / Alcohol is one of the biggest risk factors for breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer type in the WHO European Region, with 1579 women diagnosed every day. Alcohol consumption is one of the major modifiable risk factors for the disease, causing 7 of every 100 new breast cancer cases in the Region.
Does coffee lower estrogen?
Progesterone – “I’m not aware of direct association of caffeine and progesterone,” says Oladimeji Oki, MD, a family attending physician at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. “Of course if estrogen levels are altered, the estrogen/progesterone ratio will also be altered.” When there is an imbalance of these two hormones, it can have negative health effects for women.
- Drinking caffeine can increase estrogen levels in women, sometimes leading to an estrogen dominant state,” says Odelia Lewis, MD, a medical contributor to ABC News Medical Unit,
- Estrogen dominance is associated with premenstrual syndrome, heavy periods, fibrocystic breasts, and even certain breast cancers.
Estrogen dominance is usually associated with low progesterone levels.” In other words, even if caffeine doesn’t directly affect progesterone, because it impacts the relationship with estrogen, it can be important to consider. More research is needed.
Does wine decrease estrogen?
The Effects of Red Wine and White Wine on Blood Estrogen and Progesterone Levels – Full Text View
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our for details. |
ul>
Brief Summary: Healthy pre-menopausal women will be recruited in order to test the effects of red wine and white wine on blood estrogen and progesterone levels. The women will be randomized and rotated through two different treatments (red wine, white wine).
Estrone and estradiol are hormones in the category of estrogens. It is known that the bodies of both men and women may convert (or aromatize) a certain amount of naturally occurring testosterone into estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors have been used to prevent this conversion, or aromatization, of testosterone into estrogen, in the treatment of estrogen-dependent breast cancer in women.
This inhibition leads to a marked decrease in estrogen (estradiol and estrone) levels. Naturally occurring aromatase inhibitors include grapes, grape juice, and red, but not white wine. The aromatase inhibitory effects are attributed to wine phytochemicals and not to alcohol.
- Based upon this information, the investigators will monitor the estrogen levels at various phases in the menstrual cycles of women since hormone levels naturally vary throughout the menstrual cycle.
- Several epidemiologic studies have found that there is a correlation with moderate to high levels of alcohol consumption and breast cancer.
Therefore, study participants will be asked to drink only a eight ounces of wine which should have minimal or no risk for the development of breast cancer.
Healthy | Other: Red Wine Other: White Wine | Not Applicable |
table>
Primary Outcome Measures :
blood estrogen and progesterone levels
Inclusion Criteria:
- female
- pre-menopausal with regular ovulatory cycles for 12 months prior to the study
- willingness and ability to participate in study requiring alcohol consumption
- in general good health
- BMI of 18.5-35
- on regular, unrestricted diet
- not currently, or within the past 3 months, using oral contraceptives or other hormone replacement therapy
Exclusion Criteria:
- male
- irregular menstrual cycles or vasomotor symptoms within the last 12 months
- pregnant (or breast feeding)
- any hormone therapy including phytoestrogens, oral contraceptives, SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators), or androgens (or precursors) for three months prior to the study
- history of alcohol abuse
- history of any estrogen-dependent neoplasia
- high intake of dietary soy products
- Minors < age 21 years
Cedars-Sinai Women’s Heart Center | |
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90048 |
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Principal Investigator: | Glenn D Braunstein, MD | Cedars Sinai Medical Cneter |
Keywords provided by Noel Bairey Merz, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: : The Effects of Red Wine and White Wine on Blood Estrogen and Progesterone Levels – Full Text View
What drinks lower estrogen?
What can I drink to lower estrogen? – When it comes to increasing estrogen levels, studies suggest that caffeine can affect hormone levels and others suggest that sugary drinks such as sodas can increase estrogen levels. In terms of lowering estrogen levels, there is no surefire evidence that any particular drink can help women balance or lower their hormone levels.
- In saying that, research from the U.S.
- National Institutes of Health that drinking green tea daily could be linked to lower levels of estrogen in post-menopausal women.
- It’s important to note that everyone’s hormone levels differ and there are so many factors that can impact your estrogen levels including lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise.
If you are concerned about a hormone imbalance or would simply like to know more, you can check in from home with our at-home Female Hormone Test,
What happens to your body when you don t drink alcohol for 2 weeks?
Week two of giving up alcohol – After two weeks off alcohol, you will continue to reap the benefits of better sleep and hydration. As alcohol is an irritant to the stomach lining, after a fortnight you will also see a reduction in symptoms such as reflux where the stomach acid burns your throat.
Which alcohol is best for hormones?
The Best Alcohol for Your Hormones – From Vodka to Gin The approaching holiday season means more indulging, more celebrating, and more imbibing is likely on the horizon. We know booze can be a bit of a setback when you’re trying to balance your hormones and improve your skin, but sometimes you just gotta live a little.
If you make better choices about what you drink, you can find a happy medium between fun and health without being struck by guilt every time you enjoy a happy hour drink or two.Not all alcohol is created equal. The biochemistry of how your body metabolizes alcohol is complex, causing a variety of hormonal and health impacts that extend beyond the calorie count.
Alcohol like bourbon, wine, and beer contain phytoestrogens (estrogen-mimicking substances), which can raise your estrogen levels, worsening,, and fibroid symptoms. Wine and beer also contain more sugar and carbohydrates than, say, rum, tequila, and vodka causing your body to handle them in the same way it does pure sugar, resulting in a spike in blood sugar levels and cortisol.
What happens after 3 weeks of no alcohol?
3-4 Weeks – At 3 weeks of not drinking, most drinkers have successfully reduced their risk of heart disease, including stroke, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Their kidney health and even their vision may improve. For dependent drinkers, blood pressure may reduce to normal levels by the 3rd or 4th week.
What happens after one week of no alcohol?
This text was adapted from Try Dry: The Official Guide to a Month Off Booze. Assuming you don’t spend the night before you start your challenge trying to remove all booze from the house by drinking it, the first 24 hours will see your body eliminating alcohol from your system at the rate of one unit per hour (after the first half hour, when it’s just absorbing, not processing).
You probably won’t feel any different. After all, most of us regularly manage a day without drinking. Use the Dry January drink tracker app, Try Dry, or the oh-so-much-fun AUDIT quiz to work out how many units you drink in a typical evening and you’ll be able to pinpoint pretty accurately when the booze has left the building.
For the first few days of your dry month you may feel a bit under the weather as dopamine, a mood-enhancing chemical produced in the brain, is still depleted and your body is replacing glycogen and minerals. If you’re feeling sluggish and low, and find yourself snapping at everyone, just remember that this will only last a few days at most and the good stuff is just around the corner.
- You may find that it takes a while to drop off to sleep during the first week.
- Without the soporific effect of booze to knock us out, we don’t plummet into unconsciousness quite so quickly.
- It’s tempting to have a drink to get you off to sleep, but then you’d be back to square one.
- Make sure you’ve got a good sleep hygiene routine – try to go to bed at the same time each night.
Don’t eat just before bedtime and limit screen time, going completely screen-free for the hour or so before bed. Milky drinks, warm baths, soothing music, reading Ulysses – you might need to try a few things before you hit on your best sleep aids. Hopefully you’re feeling much better by days 4-7.
- All of your body’s systems are back to their usual working levels.
- You may find that you have more energy and better concentration.
- Even if you toss and turn a bit at first, when you do drop off you’ll get better-quality sleep and probably wake feeling more refreshed the next day.
- You may notice that you’re not getting up for the 3 a.m.
wee, too, which is a nice bonus. Some people experience very vivid dreams around this time. This could be down to increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM is the stage of sleep during which we dream. When we drink, REM sleep is suppressed, which is why we’re still so tired the next day, even after an eight-hour slumber.
A few days off the booze and – hey presto! These dreams are nothing to worry about but some people do report that they’re the craziest, scariest or most outlandish and lucid dreams they’ve ever had. Popcorn, anyone? Some people will experience these benefits at different times, or not at all. This can be down to how much you were drinking before, other lifestyle changes (if you’re ditching your nightcap for an espresso, you’re not likely to have better sleep) or just the quirks of your particular body.
That doesn’t mean your month off isn’t doing you good, and it doesn’t mean you won’t feel better over the longer term – so don’t give up if you’re not experiencing these effects exactly as they’re laid out above. And keep an eye out for benefits I don’t mention! Warning! Stopping drinking suddenly can be very dangerous, and can even kill you, if you are dependent on alcohol.
seizures (fits)hand tremors (‘the shakes’)sweatingseeing things that are not actually real (visual hallucinations)depressionanxietydifficulty sleeping (insomnia)
But you can still take control of your drinking. Speak to a GP who will be able to get help for you to reduce your drinking safely.
What happens to face when you stop drinking?
1. Your Skin Looks Brighter – Have you ever noticed how tired you look after a long night of drinking? Well, it’s not just because of the hangover you’re likely experiencing. It’s also because of the effect that alcohol has on your body, including your skin.
The more you drink, the more dehydrated your skin gets, causing it to appear dry and porous. Alcohol also deprives your skin of necessary nutrients which can lead to waxiness and rashes, and make you more susceptible to sun damage. These side effects can have a lasting impact, lead to more wrinkles, and speed up your skin’s aging process.
Fortunately, your skin can bounce back from the effects of alcohol. By giving your body a month-long break from drinking, you’re allowing your skin to rehydrate and regenerate. The best part is that you don’t have to wait an entire month to start seeing the changes.
Can alcohol affect your menstrual cycle?
Does Alcohol Affect Your Period? – Alcohol can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle (period). Irregular or stopped menstrual bleeding after alcohol consumption is a common concern for several women. The question transforms from, “Does alcohol affect your period” to “How does alcohol affect your period?” As with any typical health-related issue, it’s advised to monitor alcohol intake in a general sense.
However, the excess amount and binge drinking truly pose a significant problem. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, engaging in regular alcohol use can cause skipped or irregular periods. The process occurs because alcohol can temporarily increase testosterone and estrogen levels, wreaking havoc on the typical hormonal fluctuations during ovulation.
If you’re a woman that desires to conceive, it’s vital to know that excessive and regular alcohol intake can affect ovulation, and hence fertility. It’s ideal to reduce all alcohol intake when on your menstrual cycle, to encourage healthy ovulation.
Does alcohol affect a hormone blood test?
Can alcohol affect thyroid hormone levels before bloodwork? – Drinking too much alcohol can lower your T4 and T3 lab results, especially with frequent heavy use. Additionally, it may also lower your TSH and make you feel more symptomatic. People who drink only moderate amounts of alcohol, as defined by the USDA Dietary Guidelines, will likely not see a significant impact on their lab results.
However, there is a bit of a gray area here. Keep in mind, alcohol can flare up your immune system, and some people are more sensitive to alcohol than others. Thus, where one person may not be affected by a glass of wine in the evening, another may have a flare-up of their symptoms. If you are curious how alcohol affects your thyroid, it may help to eliminate alcohol temporarily through the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet.
However, people with a thyroid condition should limit alcohol or avoid it altogether to optimize their thyroid.