Can a couple of drinks help your sperm?
According to a study published in the Andrology journal moderate alcohol intake appeared positively associated with sperm quality. The study was made between September 2014 and December 2016, on a sample of 323 male patients.
As the study states, in most cases sperm quality does not always have a clear explanation, but there is evidence linking lifestyle habits with male fertility. One of lifestyle habits is definitely drinking alcohol.
This surprising study defines, moderate drinking of alcohol as 4-7 units per week and the comparison with the men that drank less alcohol (1-3 units per week) and the men that drank more alcohol (more than 8 units a week) showed that the moderate consumers of alcohol had bigger semen volume and total sperm count.
It’s hard to say what is 1 unit of alcohol equal to, because it depends on the type of the drink and alcohol %.
NHS created this simple guide for alcohol units that you can use for having a better idea, or you can use the alcohol units calculatort o be able to control how many units you consume:
- 250ml glass of wine: 3 units
- Pint of beer with 5,2% of alcohol: 3 units
- Can of beer with 5,5% of alcohol: 2 units
- 25ml Shot of spirt with 40% of alcohol: 1 unit
However, a previous study of 1221 Danish men from 2014 had shown that high alcohol intake is decreasing sperm quality by 1/3. It’s important to highlight that sperm quality, whether it’s positive or negative is not a constant measure. Sperm quality can change and reverse within 3 months, as that’s approximately how fast new sperms are created.
That’s why it’s very important to remember that nowadays, you can check your sperm quality with home tests, without the need to visit the doctor’s office immediately.
Even though moderate drinking could possibly help with the sperm volume and total sperm count, it doesn’t mean that men that are not drinking alcohol should start drinking or going for a preventive beer a day. Non-drinkers have still the best sperm quality.
It’s also good to remember that heavy drinkers can be influenced by long-term effects of alcohol, which are besides sperm quality, liver disease, cancer or high blood pressure and heart-related diseases.
All in all, it’s not the end of the world if you have a beer now and then, but as with many things in life, it’s important to remember the healthy balance.
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