Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs when a baby comes into contact with alcohol before birth. While male sperm cannot cause fetal alcohol syndrome to occur, the health of sperm can make a child more at risk of developing fetal alcohol syndrome.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is one form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). FASDs can affect how a child’s body, behavior, and brain develop as they grow up, and these effects can last throughout a person’s life.
In this article, we look at the possible role that a father may play in the development of fetal alcohol syndrome.
We also examine how alcohol can affect the health of sperm and what steps people may take to keep them healthy.
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A father cannot cause fetal alcohol syndrome. The cause of fetal alcohol syndrome is exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. This exposure to alcohol can alter the way that the unborn baby develops in the womb.
Unborn babies can come into contact with alcohol when it passes to them from the mother’s blood through the umbilical cord.
However, although a father cannot cause fetal alcohol syndrome, their alcohol intake before conception can affect how an unborn baby develops.
Alcohol can affect the health of a father’s sperm and may even lead to changes on a genetic level that can influence how an unborn child develops. So while a father cannot cause fetal alcohol syndrome, their alcohol intake may affect the likelihood of fetal alcohol syndrome occurring.
Learn more about the causes of FASDs.
Drinking alcohol can affect the health of sperm.
- abnormal sperm sizes and shapes
- reduced sperm count
- changes in the sperm’s DNA
Animal studies have also shown that frequent alcohol intake can hinder the movement of sperm cells, known as sperm motility.
These effects may reduce fertility and, therefore, lower the chances that the sperm can fertilize an egg. They can also have a negative effect on how the fetus develops and increase the risk of birth complications.
In addition, changes to the genetic material of the sperm can influence the degree to which alcohol exposure in the womb impacts the development of the fetus and, therefore, the likelihood of FASDs.
Learn more about sperm health factors.
Many of the things people can do to ensure that their sperm are healthy will also benefit their overall health.
Steps to take for good sperm health include:
- following a healthy diet
- getting a good amount of sleep every night
- maintaining a healthy weight
- exercising regularly
- avoiding smoking
- limiting alcohol intake
Overheating the sperm can also reduce a person’s sperm count. This can occur from wearing tight-fitting clothing or spending a lot of time in hot environments such as saunas.
Learn more about ways to improve sperm health.
If a person is regularly drinking too much alcohol, support is available to help with this process:
- Findtreatment.gov: A treatment locator from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to help people find places to receive help for substance use and mental health disorders.
Alcohol Treatment Navigator : A similar resource from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism specifically to find help for alcohol use disorder.- Alcoholics Anonymous: An international organization that brings people together to help them give up drinking.
There are many treatment options available for people with alcohol use disorder. These range from counseling and residential programs to medication to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Some drugs can also serve as a deterrent by provoking a severe reaction to alcohol.
As babies
Learn more about treatment for alcohol use disorder.
Can my husband drink alcohol while trying to conceive?
Drinking in moderation is likely to be fine while trying to conceive. However, the less a person drinks,
My husband was drunk when we conceived. Will it affect the baby?
A one-off instance of being drunk should not affect the health of a baby. However, excessive drinking over time before conception can have an impact.
Sperm cannot cause fetal alcohol syndrome. However, they can affect a baby’s risk of developing fetal alcohol syndrome.
If a person drinks excessively, their sperm can change, and these changes may lead to potential health complications after a pregnancy.
Limiting alcohol consumption can improve the health of sperm. Other things that may also help include eating healthily, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking.