There are many things women choose to sacrifice while they’re trying to conceive, but for many a nightly glass of wine remains on the menu until the happy news is confirmed.
Now a new study suggests it might be wise to limit alcohol consumption more strictly if you’re hoping to get pregnant, with experts advising that just one glass of wine per night can cut fertility considerably.
A nine-year Danish study involving 6,120 women aged between 21 and 45 who were trying to conceive showed that those who drank one large glass of red or white wine daily (a 250ml glass a day or 14 servings per week) were 18 per cent less likely to become pregnant.
According to the Aarhus University Hospital research, published in the British Medical Journal, women who limited their wine consumption just a little, to 13 servings, did not experience the same fertility decline.
The researchers believe that alcohol interrupts the monthly cycle and may damage a woman’s eggs.
Conversely, a previous study led by the Danish Epidemiology Science Centre found that women who drink a moderate amount of wine actually improved their chances of falling pregnant within two months in comparison to women who drink beer or spirits, or remain teetotal.
In this study, researchers found that moderate wine drinkers were 23 per cent less likely to wait more than a year to conceive.
So what’s a girl to do?
The HSE advises women to avoid alcohol entirely while trying for a baby to limit the chances of consuming alcohol before you know you’re pregnant.
It’s always best to err on the side of caution. While there’s no reason to sweat it over the odd glass of wine, it’s probably best to avoid it if you want to maximise your chances of conceiving.
