Alcohol consumption and in vitro fertilization: a review of the literature

Abstract

The aim of our study is to determine whether alcohol consumption affects the results of in vitro fertilization. A review of the literature was performed to find prospective cohort studies of couples undergoing in vitro fertilization in which alcohol intake was recorded. A primary search returned 389 studies, 2 of which were finally considered eligible. A total of 2908 couples were analyzed in terms of pregnancy outcomes depending on drinking habits. The risk of IVF failure increased 4.14-fold and 2.86-fold with an increased alcohol intake of 12 gr/d in women during the week and month before, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of live birth rate in women who drank at least four drinks per week compared with women who drank fewer was 0.84; this difference was statistically significant. Paternal alcohol use levels 1 month, 1 week and during the attempts were also associated with worse reproductive effects. Our review, though including a small number of studies that were heterogeneous in design, revealed decreased rates of pregnancy and fertilization outcomes for couples who drank before or during their in vitro fertilization techniques. This suggests that couples undergoing IVF should be advised to abstain from alcohol prior to and during their procedures.

Chinese abstract

本研究的目的在于明确酒精摄入是否会对体外受精的结局产生影响。回顾文献以筛查在体外受精治疗过程中有酒精摄入记录的夫妇为研究对象的前瞻性队列研究。初步共搜索了389项研究，经筛选排除，最终有2项研究适用。本研究共分析了2908对有饮酒习惯的夫妇的妊娠结局。若母方分别在IVF治疗期间一周与治疗前一个月增加酒精摄入量12克/天，IVF失败的风险分别升高4.14倍与2.86倍。每周至少饮用4杯酒的女性与摄入量较少的女性相比，活产率的比值比为0.84，差异有统计学意义。父方饮酒水平在1个月、1周或正在尝试饮酒，均会对生育力产生不良影响。我们的回顾虽然仅包含了少量的研究，在设计上存在异质性，但结果表明夫妇若在体外受精治疗之前或期间饮酒，均会降低妊娠率、影响受精结局。这提示进行IVF治疗的夫妇应在治疗前与治疗期间戒断饮酒。

• Alcohol consumption
• assisted reproductive techniques
• drinking
• in vitro fertilization
• lifestyle modifiable factors
• live birth rates