Alcohol and period: Does a glass of wine affect your cycle?
The short answer is that a single glass of wine or moderate alcohol consumption probably doesn't make a big difference to the menstrual cycle of most women.
On the other hand, research suggests that high alcohol consumption can affect hormones, ovulation and fertility. At the same time, the research on alcohol and period remains limited, and many of the studies that exist point in different directions.
This article was written by Cathrine Widunok Wichmand,
journalist + founder of flow
A glass of wine on the terrace – how worried should you be?
A glass of rosé on the terrace. A beer for the Friday bar. A cocktail on holiday.
For many, alcohol is a natural part of social contexts. Therefore, it is not strange if you have wondered whether alcohol affects your period or your hormones.
You may have heard that alcohol can make PMS worse. Or that you get drunk faster during your period.
The truth is that research does not yet provide clear answers to all questions.
The best knowledge we have today indicates that the amount of alcohol matters far more than the timing of your cycle. Moderate alcohol consumption does not appear to alter the menstrual cycle in most women, while high consumption can affect the body's hormonal balance and reproductive system.
How does alcohol affect the body?
When you drink alcohol, it affects far more than the liver.
Alcohol affects, among other things, the brain, the nervous system and several of the body's hormone systems. Among other things, it can increase the level of the stress hormone cortisol and affect the hormones that help regulate ovulation and the menstrual cycle.
However, this does not mean that a single glass of wine will automatically affect your cycle.
How much alcohol means depends on, among other things:
- how much you drink
- how often you drink
- your body weight
- genetics
- your general health.
Does alcohol affect menstruation?
The short answer is: Maybe - but probably only with higher alcohol consumption.
There are studies which indicate that heavy alcohol consumption can affect ovulation and make menstruation more irregular.
Conversely, other studies find no clear correlation between moderate alcohol consumption and changes in the menstrual cycle.
A major literature review from the University of Washington concludes that the research is characterized by small studies and different methods, and that therefore safe conclusions cannot yet be drawn.
In other words:
We know that a lot of alcohol can affect the body's hormonal system.
We do not yet know exactly how much importance moderate alcohol consumption has on the menstrual cycle in healthy women.
Does alcohol make PMS worse?
It's a question many people ask.
And the answer is again more nuanced than one might think.
Some women find that they become more emotionally affected or have stronger PMS symptoms if they drink alcohol in the run-up to their period.
However, the research has not yet been able to show a clear causal relationship.
Not sure if you suffer from PMS? Read about the symptoms in the article here →
Several studies have investigated whether women drink more alcohol during certain phases of the cycle, but the results are conflicting. Some find an increased alcohol intake sooner period, while others find no difference. The researchers themselves point out that the quality of the studies is generally low and that there is a need for better research.
If you find that alcohol seems to worsen your symptoms, it is therefore perfectly reasonable to listen to your own body - even if the research does not yet provide a clear answer.
Do you get drunk faster during your period?
The short answer is: We don't know that.
There are smaller studies that suggest that some women may experience greater sensitivity to alcohol during certain phases of the cycle.
Other studies find no difference.
At present, there is no strong evidence that menstruation itself changes how affected you are by alcohol.
If you yourself experience a difference, it can also be connected to many other factors – for example sleep, food intake, stress or how you feel that day.
Alcohol and fertility
Here the research is more clear.
Several large studies and meta-analyses indicate that higher alcohol consumption may be associated with reduced fertility in women.
A systematic review of almost 100,000 women found that increasing alcohol consumption was associated with a lower likelihood of achieving pregnancy, and the risk increased with the amount of alcohol consumed.
If you are trying to get pregnant, Danish fertility clinics and health authorities generally recommend limiting or avoiding alcohol. This is due to both the possible impact on fertility and the fact that you can be pregnant before you know it.
The most important thing to take with you
A single glass of wine every now and then does not seem to affect the menstrual cycle in most women.
On the other hand, research suggests that high alcohol consumption can affect hormones, fertility and reproductive health.
When it comes to alcohol and period, we still lack answers to many questions. Therefore, it is also not possible to say that all women react in the same way.
If you find that alcohol seems to be affecting your symptoms, it may be worth noting how your body reacts.
Not because the research says it should. But because your experience is also an important part of the equation.
Frequently asked questions
Does alcohol affect menstruation?
Moderate alcohol consumption does not appear to affect the menstrual cycle in most women. With high alcohol consumption, research suggests that hormones and ovulation can be affected.
Does alcohol make PMS worse?
The research is inconclusive. Some women experience stronger symptoms, but there is not yet strong evidence for a clear connection.
Do you get drunk faster during your period?
There is no strong evidence that menstruation itself changes how affected you are by alcohol.
Does alcohol affect fertility?
Higher alcohol consumption is associated with lower fertility, while the evidence for low or moderate alcohol consumption is less clear.
Sources:
- Carroll HA, Lustyk KKB, Larimer ME. The relationship between alcohol consumption and menstrual cycle: a review of the literature. Archives of Women's Mental Health. 2015. (Systematic literature review of the relationship between alcohol and menstrual cycle.)
- World Health Organization (WHO). Infertility. (On lifestyle factors, including high alcohol consumption, and their importance for fertility.)
- Fan D, Liu L, Xia Q, et al. Female alcohol consumption and fecundability: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Scientific Reports. 2017. (Systematic review and meta-analysis of alcohol consumption and female fertility.) (This is, in my opinion, the strongest source for the fertility section.)
- Hvidovre Hospital – Fertility Clinic. Fertility and lifestyle. (Danish recommendations on alcohol and fertility.)
- Zealand University Hospital. Lifestyle factors and fertility. (About alcohol, smoking, weight and fertility in Danish clinical practice.)
- The National Board of Health. Alcohol – Health professional recommendations. (About recommended alcohol intake and health risks of alcohol.)
- sundhed.dk – Patient handbook. Alcohol. (About the effects of alcohol on the body and the general health consequences.)
