Alcohol consumption during IVF cycle

[tinadecember]

Hi ladies,

just looking for some insight really on what your opinions are on consuming alcohol during your IVF cycle (so starting from CD1) for both you and your partner.

Only asking as I had a HUGE row with my hubby last night over the issue.
We were told at our last appointment that alcohol is a big no no during the IVF cycle which I wasn't over the moon with, I do enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the working week but I am willing to go T total in the hope of a BFP.
Now my husband was at this appointment yet yesterday said this... "I'm thinking of going out next weekend with the boys. Watch the match and then a few pints later on is this okay?" I replied "Yes that's fine, as long as it's pints of coke that you're having and not lager"
He wasn't happy with my reply and continued to tell me how stupid I was behaving for believing that stopping alcohol altogether would make a difference.

Consultants don't tell us this information for the good of their health do they? They're telling us because they don't want our money to go to waste and want to give us a good a chance of this working as they possibly can!

What's your take girls? I want both of us to have zero alcohol then at least if it doesn't work I can't blame it on having a drink.

xx

 

[Moma Ali]

where as I get the frustration of not being able to drink while others do (my OH drank all through my pregnancy... could of killed him, I cant tolerate drunk people while sober) but as annoying as it is to hear he actually doesnt need to quit, sperm in the testes waiting to be used is not affected by alcohol its the sperm in production that is and thats a delayed process

he should of stopped drink 3 months ago as it takes 3 months for that damaged sperm to reach the testes, anything he drinks now wont effect his sperm for another 3 months.

I know because I've been through this with my OH, his first SA was bad so they made him stop drinking for a month and then go in 3 months later for another test and it was fine, they told him to stop drinking then but will he f*ck listen to anyone (one day you may see me in the news for snapping and killing him lol) doesnt help that he gets to drink at work too... Ive put my foot down about the 3 month period before our IVF though, if I see him drinking I will need a good lawyer

any good doctor will most likely tell him to quit anyway (since drinking is bad for you) so you could take him to the doctor and they'll tell him again

 

[tinadecember]

haha Moma Ali your post made me giggle!

I am concerned because his motility and counts are both low already and if he does drink and we get a BFN I know I'm going to be looking for something to blame it on. What harm can it do to cut out drink for a couple of weeks? We aren't talking months, just a measly 14 days!

I wonder sometimes if he actually realises how important this is to me that it works, he should feel that way too and do anything to make sure it does.

God give me strength!

xx

 

[princess2406]

Throughout our IVF I didn't have a drop of alcohol, my oh didn't either leading upto the time for him to do his bit lol. Personally it wasn't worth the risk, we wanted to give ourselves the best chance. I didn't want to look back and blame myself if hadn't of worked.

Good luck!

 

[tinadecember]

Exactly princess, that's what I'm thinking too. It's only natural that we would be looking for a reason to blame it not working and I know I would jump down his throat for drinking.

xx

 

[Moma Ali]

I wonder sometimes if he actually realises how important this is to me that it works, he should feel that way too and do anything to make sure it does.

God give me strength!

xx

I feel this way too... in most cases it seem like us women that get the rough end of the deal and men just dont get it its like this is so important im going to have needle shoved up my hooha (after everything else that already has been) and all you have to do is have alone time into a cup

 

[Mrs W 11]

Someone else I know on another thread just had her egg collection this week and her husband went out and got very drunk the night before, his first sperm sample had zero sperm in. He gave another sample which then did have some sperm in but as she got 10 lovely eggs, she is very disappointed. I think even if she knew for sure the damage had been done 3 months earlier it still wasn't worth the risk.

Personally we gave up a month or so before last time and during stims this time. I just feel, like princess says that if we are paying thousands fir something we wantmso badly we might as well not take any risks.

I did let my hubby have 1 beer when we had a BBQ at the weekend but if he wanted a night out drinking I would not be happy. I'm not even drinking tonight and its my birthday! In our situation though, it's me with the infertility issue, not him. In your hubby's case, I'd think he'd want to do everything he can to make sure his count is good on the big day.

Xx

 

[Mrs G]

Echo what pp said, it takes 3 months for developing sperm to mature so whatever oh eats/drinks/takes in that time will affect his sample on the day. A couple of weeks off the beer will not have much of an impact sadly. Someone else said something similar but my oh has never produced great samples but he went away for a weekend on the beer and the next sample was very very poor.

Sadly most blokes don't like to think they have any blame or can do anything pro active to help but he does need to play his part.

Good luck.

 

[tinadecember]

Good luck with your IVF Mrs W!!

I think personally in my husband' case football, beer and his I pad come before everything else in life. His social life is quite hectic and he isn't the type to not be the life and soul of the party so I can't imagine he will want to turn his boys get together down but needs must! If I have to handcuff him to the front door I will so help me god hahaha

xx

 

[tinadecember]

I don't understand why professionals would suggest not drinking alcohol for up to 5 days before testing if it didn't have an effect on the sample. I don't personally believe that it won't have an effect

Doctors suggest this so why would they suggest it if it wasn't true?

To get the best sample:

avoid ejaculation for 24 to 72 hours before the test
avoid alcohol, caffeine, and drugs such as cocaine and marijuana two to five days before the test
stop taking any herbal medications, such as St. John’s wort and echinacea, as instructed by your healthcare provider
avoid any hormone medications as instructed by your healthcare provider

 

[ps57002]

I know sometimes after a drink or two it's harder to perform. So isn't that good enough reason to not drink before the big day.

I googled this up since I don't know much. Maybe make him read an article or two....
https://www.dallasfertility.com/pdfs/32 ivfpatientinstructions.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12568842

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/20/alcohol-hinders-baby-ivf

https://www.sharecare.com/health/achieving-orgasm/can-alcohol-cause-delayed-ejaculation

 

[tinadecember]

Thank you ps, I definitely will do!

I never thought about the struggling to perform scenario but I guess you're right!

Xx

 

[ps57002]

Tinadecember

I've had my DH say that it affects him sometimes, that's why. Not that I know much about all this man stuff. Just tell him that he needs to consider if he wants to live with the regrets of "what if I had listened".....