A study published in Addiction indicated that women who drink heavily are more at risk of becoming pregnant than those who drink moderately or use cannabis. Study participants who are heavy drinkers had a 50% greater risk of pregnancy, while participants who used cannabis were no more likely to experience unintended pregnancy than non-cannabis users.
The study included a subgroup of 936 participants from a larger sample of over 2,000 non-pregnant women (aged 15-34) who reported a desire to avoid pregnancy. A standard alcohol screening questionnaire revealed 429 of the participants reported engaging in heavy drinking, and 362 claimed they used cannabis (157 reported chronic or almost daily use).
One key finding showed that participants who engaged in heavy drinking and frequent cannabis consumption had a higher overall desire to avoid pregnancy compared with participants with more moderate drinking patterns or those who did not drink alcohol or use cannabis. However, the study showed an association between heavy drinking and greater unplanned pregnancy risk.
Tracking participants over a one-year period showed 71 of the 936 women who expressed the greater desire to avoid pregnancy became pregnant. More than half of the unintended pregnancies (38) occurred among those who drank heavily, which was higher than the combined number for nondrinkers and those who used limited or moderate amounts of alcohol. The study also showed that less than half of the 71 undesired pregnancies (28) occurred among the participants who used cannabis. This finding revealed that cannabis consumers are not at an elevated risk of unplanned pregnancy compared with non-cannabis users.
The study highlights the need for effective reproductive health counseling and other wellness interventions for women struggling with excessive drinking. As study author Dr. Sarah Raifman explained, “In the meantime, given the potentially life-altering effects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (which occur when a fetus is exposed to alcohol through the mother’s drinking) and the fact that the risk of FASD increases with the amount and duration of the mother’s drinking, it's important for doctors and clinicians to support women who drink heavily to stop drinking as soon as they suspect an unintentional pregnancy.” The research team intends to investigate further the various factors influencing the association between heavy alcohol use and unintended pregnancy.
Sources: Addiction, Eureka News Alert