According to a 2003 study published in Alcohol Research and Health by Mary Ann Emanuele et al., alcohol consumption can alter the healthy functioning of the female reproductive system and organs. Alcohol can inhibit and disrupt menstrual cycles in women, and it can also disrupt puberty and cause early onset of menopause. Doctors note that low to moderate alcohol consumption can have drastic effects on female reproduction, regardless of liver function or overall health.
Female Hormonal Cycles
Emanuele et al. note that a typical women's menstrual cycle lasts an average of 28 days with day one marked by the first day of bleeding and ovulation marked at day 14. The first phase of the menstrual cycle is called the follicular phase, and during this time estrogen levels rise. Ovulation occurs at mid-cycle, and progesterone is produced. Levels of progesterone and estrogen remain high, and if no pregnancy occurs, these hormone levels will fall, marking the beginning of the next menses.
Alcohol and Female Puberty
According to Emanuele et al, estrogen levels can be depressed in adolescent girls for up to two weeks after they consume moderate amounts of alcohol. They also suggest that alcohol may inhibit the release of hormones that promote puberty and reproductive development in adolescent girls. Estrogen plays a very key role in bone growth, and it's possible that alcohol consumption among adolescent females can hinder healthy bone development, as well.
Alcohol and Female Reproductive Function
Emanuele et al. suggest that alcohol consumption can markedly affect the reproductive systems of female drinkers. Researchers have concluded that alcoholic women often experience menstrual irregularities, lack of ovulation, and infertility. These researchers also report that consumption of alcohol at specific points in the menstrual cycle can disrupt very sensitive hormonal balances in the female body. When a reproductive hormone is disrupted, even a small amount, it can disrupt the entire menstrual cycle. This may lead to irregular bleeding or interruptions in ovarian function.
Prevention/Solution
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, or NIAAA, notes that it is critical for women to educate themselves on the health risks associated with alcohol consumption. Experts at the NIAAA note that alcohol consumption affects women differently than it affects men, and they offer a variety of publications designed to help women understand these risks. One important difference between men and women is that men are, on average, larger than women. When alcohol passes through a woman's body it is typically in higher concentrations and the toxins may cause more damage to internal organs, including reproductive organs. The NIAAA encourages women to educate themselves about these physiological effects of alcohol in an effort to lower rates of alcohol abuse in women.
Expert Insight
Experts at the NIAAA offer drinkers a wide variety of resources to control or cut down on problem drinking. They suggest that individuals set goals and limits related to drinking. For women, this should be no more than one drink a day. Experts at the NIAAA encourage drinkers to track their progress in a journal. They also advise that people avoid keeping alcohol in the house where it can be tempting to drink, and they suggest that people stay physically active and seek support such as counseling if they are struggling to control alcohol use.
