MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Your Fertility Can Be At Risk In A Shockingly Short Period Of Time

Your Fertility Can Be At Risk In A Shockingly Short Period Of Time

Study Finds Guys Who Exercise More Have Healthier Sperm

Study Finds Guys Who Exercise More Have Healthier Sperm

Study Finds Tomato Compound Could Improve Male Fertility

Study Finds Tomato Compound Could Improve Male Fertility

13 Things You Can Start Doing Now To Improve Your Fertility

13 Things You Can Start Doing Now To Improve Your Fertility

{headline}

{headline}

What Women Are Looking For When They're Choosing A Sperm Donor

What Women Are Looking For When They're Choosing A Sperm Donor

A Beer A Day, Keeps Your Sperm At Play

A Beer A Day, Keeps Your Sperm At Play

Trying For A Baby? Eat This

Trying For A Baby? Eat This

{headline}

{headline}

Worried About Firing Blanks? Your Diet Can Help With That

Worried About Firing Blanks? Your Diet Can Help With That

This New Science-backed Energy Drink is 100 per cent Natural

This New Science-backed Energy Drink is 100 per cent Natural

10 Health And Fitness Instagram Accounts That Are Inspiring Us To Take On 2021

10 Health And Fitness Instagram Accounts That Are Inspiring Us To Take On 2021

How To Set Up Your Work From Home Space

How To Set Up Your Work From Home Space

Government Orders Shutdown Of Gyms And Indoor Sporting Venues

Government Orders Shutdown Of Gyms And Indoor Sporting Venues

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

Everything You Need To Know About Vaping And Its Effect On Your Health

Everything You Need To Know About Vaping And Its Effect On Your Health

  1. Home
  2. Fatherhood

Want To Have Kids? Study Finds You Need To Quit The Drink

The findings suggest you should stop drinking 6 months before conception - by Alex Pierotti
  • 04 Oct 2019
Want To Have Kids? Study Finds You Need To Quit The Drink

When you're trying for a kid, health concerns are usually directed at your partner. But while they'll need to lay off the grog, new findings suggest it's equally important for you to quit the drink in the lead up to pregnancy.   

Research published in European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reviewed existing studies on the effects of alcohol in the lead up to pregnancy.

The data found that there was a link between a baby's congenital heart defects and their father's drinking habits before conception. 

Dads-to-be who drank during the three months leading up to conception increased the babies' chances of developing congenital heart disease by 44 per cent. 

Those who were binge drinkers - defined as five or more drinks per session - saw that statistic rise to 52 per cent. 

Congenital heart disease is defined as, "one or more abnormalities in your heart's structure that you're born with. This most common of birth defects can alter the way blood flows through your heart. Defects range from simple, which might cause no problems, to complex, which can cause life-threatening complication," according to the Mayo Clinic.

"Binge drinking by would-be parents is a high risk and dangerous behaviour that not only may increase the chance of their baby being born with a heart defect, but also greatly damages their own health," explained study author Jiabi Qin, of Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Qin accepts that sometimes it's tricky to tell when you might conceive, but ideally, men should aim to cease alcohol consumption at least six months before fertilisation. Meanwhile, women should give up the grog a year out, and avoid it while pregnant. 

  • News
  • Health
  • Life
  • Fatherhood
Alex Pierotti
Alex Pierotti
Alex Pierotti is the Digital Content Editor for Men's Health Australia, with experience reporting on health, fitness and sport. With a Journalism degree from UNSW under his belt, he got his start working in TV, working on the live broadcast of the Intrust Super Shute Shield on 7TWO before making the switch to print and digital at Pacific Magazines.

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Your Fertility Can Be At Risk In A Shockingly Short Period Of Time

Your Fertility Can Be At Risk In A Shockingly Short Period Of Time

Study Finds Guys Who Exercise More Have Healthier Sperm

Study Finds Guys Who Exercise More Have Healthier Sperm

Study Finds Tomato Compound Could Improve Male Fertility

Study Finds Tomato Compound Could Improve Male Fertility

13 Things You Can Start Doing Now To Improve Your Fertility

13 Things You Can Start Doing Now To Improve Your Fertility

{headline}

{headline}

What Women Are Looking For When They're Choosing A Sperm Donor

What Women Are Looking For When They're Choosing A Sperm Donor

A Beer A Day, Keeps Your Sperm At Play

A Beer A Day, Keeps Your Sperm At Play

Trying For A Baby? Eat This

Trying For A Baby? Eat This

{headline}

{headline}

Worried About Firing Blanks? Your Diet Can Help With That

Worried About Firing Blanks? Your Diet Can Help With That

This New Science-backed Energy Drink is 100 per cent Natural

This New Science-backed Energy Drink is 100 per cent Natural

10 Health And Fitness Instagram Accounts That Are Inspiring Us To Take On 2021

10 Health And Fitness Instagram Accounts That Are Inspiring Us To Take On 2021

How To Set Up Your Work From Home Space

How To Set Up Your Work From Home Space

Government Orders Shutdown Of Gyms And Indoor Sporting Venues

Government Orders Shutdown Of Gyms And Indoor Sporting Venues

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

Everything You Need To Know About Vaping And Its Effect On Your Health

Everything You Need To Know About Vaping And Its Effect On Your Health

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now