Moderate or heavy alcohol consumption reduces the chances of pregnancy

If you're trying to get pregnant, new research suggests you might cut or eliminate alcohol. In a new study published in the journal Human Reproduction, researchers at the University of Louisville found that heavy drinking during any phase of your menstrual cycle was significantly associated with a decreased probability of conceiving compared to non-drinkers. That finding might not be surprising. But they also found that in the second half of the menstrual cycle, even moderate drinking (three to six drinks per week) is linked to reduced chances of pregnancy. And they found no difference between different types of drinks. Consider that a typical, healthy, non-drinking woman who is trying to conceive has approximately a one-in-four chance of conceiving during a single menstrual cycle. Heavy or even moderate amounts of alcohol appear to reduce those chances.