Why women need to avoid alcohol

Research suggests that, in some women, as little as one drink per day can slightly raise the risk of breast cancer. It’s not possible to know how alcohol will affect the risk of breast cancer in any one woman. But with so many new cases of breast cancer each year, even a small increase in […]

Research suggests that, in some women, as little as one drink per day can slightly raise the risk of breast cancer. It’s not possible to know how alcohol will affect the risk of breast cancer in any one woman. But with so many new cases of breast cancer each year, even a small increase in risk can have an impact on the number of cases.
As many as 500 new cases of breast cancer each year could be directly caused by drink. According to the world’s largest study of women’s drinking behavior, the risk of breast cancer increases by six per cent for every extra alcoholic drink women take  every day over the sensible limit. Why this is so we don’t yet know but scientists are clear that the link between breast cancer and alcohol does exist.
Drinking by a pregnant woman can harm her unborn baby. One of the risks of drinking is that a woman may at some point abuse alcohol or become alcoholic.
Alcohol can damage the baby of a mother who drinks during pregnancy, resulting in a set of birth defects called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). FAS are the most common known preventable cause of mental impairment. Babies with FAS have distinctive changes in their facial features and they may be born small. The brain damage that occurs with FAS can result in lifelong problems with learning, memory, attention and problem solving.
This alcohol related changes in the brain may be present even in babies whose appearance and growth are not affected. It is not known if there is any safe drinking level during pregnancy; nor is there any stage of pregnancy in which drinking at any level is known to be risk free. If a woman is pregnant, or wants to become pregnant, she should not drink alcohol. Even if she is pregnant and has already consumed alcohol, it is important to stop drinking for the rest of her pregnancy. Stopping can still reduce the chances that her child might be affected by alcohol.
Finding out what makes some women drink too much is the first step to preventing alcohol problems in women. Scientists are studying the role of genetics and family environment in increasing or decreasing the risk of alcohol problems. They also are studying other features of a woman’s life, such as the type of job she has; whether she combines family and work; life changes like marriage, divorce, and the birth and departure of children; infertility; relationship and sexual problems; and ethnic background.
Studies have shown that women who drink lots are less likely to achieve pregnancy. This has been supported by a recent study reported by the British Medical Journal. It suggested that as few as five or less drinks every week would decrease a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant.
The general advice is, if you want to conceive, avoid alcohol completely.
Again, any alcohol in mother’s blood will cross the placenta and get into the foetus’ bloodstream too.
Pregnant women or women trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol.