Female alcohol consumption and fecundability: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational (cohort and case-control) studies
PubMed 29062133 · doi:10.1038/s41598-017-14261-8
What was done
Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis across four electronic databases to evaluate the relationship between female alcohol consumption (total, beer, wine, and spirits) and fecundability. Nineteen observational studies (cohort and case-control) including 98,657 women were analyzed.
What was found
Compared to non-drinkers, overall alcohol consumption was associated with reduced fecundability (relative risk [RR] 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.95). By consumption level, pooled RR was 0.89 (95% CI 0.82-0.97) for light drinkers (≤12.5 g/day) and 0.77 (95% CI 0.61-0.94) for moderate-heavy drinkers (>12.5 g/day). Beverage-specific estimates were 0.98 (95% CI 0.85-1.11) for wine, 1.02 (95% CI 0.99-1.05) for beer, and 0.92 (95% CI 0.83-1.01) for spirits. Dose-response analysis indicated a linear association: RR 0.98 (95% CI 0.97-0.99) for every 12.5 g/day increase in alcohol consumption.
Why it matters
This meta-analysis quantifies a linear, dose-dependent decrease in female fecundability with increasing alcohol intake, providing guidance for pre-conception counseling.
Limits
The included studies were observational (cohort and case-control), carrying risk of confounding and recall bias. Beverage-specific analyses did not reach statistical significance, and the abstract does not report details on partner alcohol consumption, timing of exposure, or specific definitions of fecundability across studies.
Cited by
- supports Light drinkers have an 11% lower chance of pregnancy and moderate drinkers have a 23% lower chance compared to non-drinkers, with each additional daily drink reducing pregnancy probability by 2%.