Consuming too much alcohol can negatively affect every aspect of your body, including testosterone. Alcohol can disrupt testosterone production by interfering with the three glands needed for production. To prevent your testosterone levels from dropping, and to avoid infertility issues, it is important to see your doctor about your alcoholism to take better care of your body.
The Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on Testosterone
Heavy alcohol drinkers are more likely to have poor testicular function compared to moderate drinkers. Men who drink heavily are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction, low testosterone levels, and low libido. It is believed that alcohol damages the Leydig cells in your testes, which are responsible for testosterone production. Alcohol may also interfere with the release of LH, FSH, and GnRH, which are the three glands needed for production.
How Alcohol Affects Your Sperm
Alcohol impairs the function of Sertoli cells in your testes which is responsible for sperm maturation. Disruptions to the hormones that create sperm can lead to spermatogenic arrest, interrupting sperm development that leads to low sperm concentration in semen. It is said that 50% of heavy drinkers have had spermatogenic arrest, compared to those who do not drink, which is 20%. It was also found that men who drank heavily had smaller testicles than those who did not.
How Long It Takes for Your Body to Go Back to Normal After Quitting Alcohol
Quitting alcohol can reverse some of the damage that was done to your testes. Depending on how much or how long you have been drinking, recovery could take months or years. Some of the damage may be permanent. More research is needed to understand the extent of how the reproductive system can heal itself when in recovery. It is best to avoid junk food, in addition to eating a balanced diet, exercising, and getting restful sleep to maintain good hormone levels.
If you are taking testosterone replacement therapy, it is best to quit alcohol to avoid ruining the treatment’s effectiveness. More than 90% of men with advanced liver disease also have low testosterone. Going into treatment for alcoholism not only prevents further testosterone impairment but can also save your liver. If you believe your drinking is affecting your testosterone levels or reproductive health, you need to see a doctor about it. Alcoholism treatment can reverse some of the damage alcohol did to your testosterone and improve your chances of good health.
Testosterone is responsible for your masculine features and sperm growth. Alcohol has the potential to ruin that if your drinking has become uncontrollable. It can affect whether or not your girlfriend or wife can get pregnant. You do not want to deny yourself your future as a father when you can do something about your addiction. If you are ready to be in control of your life, give Alta Loma a call. At Alta Loma’s transformative treatment center, you can get all of the help you need to reverse the damage done by alcohol. We can provide you with the tools and skills needed to improve your life, such as 12-Step programs, individualized therapy, medication management, therapeutic recreational activities, life and coping skills education, and more. We understand the struggle is real, and want to help you. To learn more about how, please call us at (866) 457-3843 today.