Editor—Jensen et al observed decreased fecundability among women who drank alcohol compared with those who did not.1 The decrease was found even among women reporting a weekly intake of five or fewer drinks. The authors call for further corroboration of their findings.
We analysed the relation between alcohol intake and difficulties in conception, using data collected on women in the control group of a case-control study of risk factors for spontaneous abortion.2 The present analysis is based on 1769 women (median age 31 years, range 14-45) who gave birth on randomly selected days at the Clinica Luigi Mangiagalli (the largest obstetric hospital in Milan) and a network of obstetric departments in the greater Milan area. During their stay in hospital the women were interviewed by trained interviewers. Information was collected about general sociodemographic characteristics and habits (including lifetime alcohol drinking) and gynaecological and obstetric history. Difficulty in conception was defined as taking two or more years to conceive or receiving medical treatment for infertility.
Of the 1769 women interviewed, 135 (median age 32 years, range 22-43) reported difficulty in conception. These women were compared with the 1634 women reporting no such difficulty. We found no relation between alcohol drinking and risk of difficulty in conception. In comparison with never drinkers, the multivariate odds ratios for difficulty in conceiving after age, education, history of spontaneous abortion, and smoking were adjusted for were 0.9 (95% confidence interval 0.6 to 1.3) for women reporting fewer than two drinks a day while trying to conceive and 1.0 (0.6 to 1.7) for those reporting two or more drinks a day (table).
These data agree with the results of previous studies.3,4 They should, however, be considered cautiously. In particular, we included only women who had difficulty in conception but had a successful pregnancy. Despite this limitation, these findings do not support an increased risk of difficulty in conception among moderate alcohol drinkers.
Table.
Number (percentage) of women having difficulty in conception according to alcohol consumption, Milan, Italy
| Alcohol consumption (drinks/day)* | Difficulty in conception
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| No | Yes | Odds ratio (95% CI)† | |
| 0 | 73 (54.1) | 911 (55.8) | 1‡ |
| 1-2 | 40 (29.6) | 499 (30.5) | 0.9 (0.6 to 1.3) |
| 3 | 22 (16.3) | 224 (13.7) | 1.0 (0.6 to 1.7) |
Sum of glasses of wine, beer, or spirits drunk each day.
Adjusted for age, education, history of spontaneous abortion, and smoking.
Reference group.
References
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