Alcohol, drugs and the menstrual cycle

Alcohol has been found to affect hormonal reproduction in both men and women. For women, however, chronic heavy drinking can cause problems with menstruation and the hormones that help to maintain pregnancy. It can also lead to sexual problems and infertility.

Menstruation can stop, become irregular, occur without ovulation or lead to early menopause and increased rates of spontaneous abortion. Thus, women drinking heavily may have problems getting pregnant or keeping the baby. Some women have reported not knowing theyh were pregnant as their periods were so irregular.

Women also report feeling greater effects of alcohol during their period or when they are premenstrual. This is thought to be due to the fact that during this time it takes longer for the alcohol to be broken down and therefore the concentration of alcohol in the blood is higher and lasts longer (Institute of Alcohol Studies 2005).

Drug use can also disrupt the menstrual cycle to the extent that it can stop women from having periods. This means that women may not use contraception if they have stopped menstruating leaving them at risk of other sexually transmitted infections as well as unexpected pregnancy.

Women will need accurate information and education about the impact of alcohol and drugs on their menstrual cycle. Social workers need to be able to provide this information and to talk to women about looking after their own sexual health needs during their substance use.

Post menopausal women
Alcohol can still have an impact on hormones in women beyond the menopause. One of the hormones that reduces post menopause is estradiol and the reduction of this hormone has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis (Gordis, undated). Alcohol has been found to increase the ocnversion of women's testosterone levels into estradiol. Hence the cautious suggestion that women drinking 3-6 drinks (units) per week may reduce the risk of heart problems without increasing risks to bone density, liver problems or breast cancer (Gordis, undated). Howeverf, such suggestions must be interpreted carefully as individual physiological make up will determine the risk posed to health, including hormone function, thus one size does not fit all!

References
Gordis, E (undated) 'Alcohol and Hormones'. Available online at http://www.library.adoption.com/Alcoholism/Alcohol-and-Hormones/article/4678/1.htm. 3 pages. Accessed 7th July 2005.

Institute of Alcohol Studies (2005) 'Women and Alcohol'. Fact sheet. Available online at http://www.ias.org.uk. 8 pages. Accessed 7th July 2005.

Introduction | Alcohol and the foetus | Drugs and the foetus
Male fertility and reproductive disorders | After the birth: child and parents' needs
Website links and further reading