“Fertility doctors should refuse treatment to women used to more than moderate drinking and who are not willing or able to minimise their alcohol consumption,” the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) has said in advice to clinicians on fertility treatment and lifestyle factors.
The ESHRE, an influential group of experts, said this was because of the risks it posed to the baby, such as foetal alcohol syndrome. Foetal alcohol syndrome can cause growth problems, facial deformities, behavioural issues and low IQ. The ESHRE also said drinking too much alcohol could decrease the chances of conceiving naturally and of successful IVF, reports the Telegraph.
So how much is too much when it comes to alcohol? In the UK, moderate consumption is considered to be within the government-recommend limits of two to three units a day, with two alcohol-free days a week, for women. A standard glass of wine is approximately two units and a large glass is three. If your trying to conceive or pregnant, the recommendation is to avoid alcohol completely, or to limit yourself to one or two drinks, once or twice a week.
However, clinics already have to take into account the ‘welfare of the child’, said spokesman for the British Fertility Society, Professor Allan Pacey, so it’s unnecessary to have further blanket conditions on alcohol.
