Changes in testosterone levels caused by drinking alcohol can have far-reaching health consequences in both men and women. In some cases, these effects can be reversed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alcohol\u2019s impact on the endocrine system, the part of the body that regulates hormones, is well known among experts. Drinking impacts many hormones<\/a> throughout the human body, including hormones like testosterone that are involved in sexual function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances worldwide. Overall, about 7.4%<\/a> of Americans have an alcohol use disorder. The problem may be even worse<\/a> in Florida, where 15% of adults reported binge drinking in 2014 and 16.6% of high school students reported binge drinking in 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although many people think of testosterone as a male hormone, it is important for both male and female physiology. In men, it is responsible for<\/a> libido, sperm production and bone and muscle mass. In women, testosterone plays a role in reproductive health and bone mass. Drinking is known to impact testosterone levels in both men and women. Given the high prevalence of drinking in America, many people may be at risk for testosterone-related problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drinking affects testosterone by influencing a circuit in the body called the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Chemicals in this axis control the production of both testosterone and sperm. Drinking throws off this hormonal cycle, leading to lower testosterone levels<\/a>. In turn, the body\u2019s ability to make sperm decreases, which also negatively affects fertility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doctors think<\/a> this occurs due to factors like alcohol byproducts, enzymes that the body uses to break down alcohol and similar chemical reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some men will not have symptoms of low testosterone, while other men will be symptomatic. Symptoms can include<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drinking affects a woman\u2019s HPG axis in similar ways. However, testosterone levels in women may increase<\/a> after drinking, possibly causing changes in female sex characteristics like fat distribution and body hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The female menstrual cycle is also controlled by the HPG axis, which adds to the complexity of hormonal disruption from drinking. Drinking can increase estrogen levels and decrease progesterone levels, leading to<\/a> fertility problems and menstrual irregularities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Little research has been conducted into different types of alcohol and how they impact testosterone. Many people think that beer may lower testosterone levels more than other types of alcohol due to the plant-based estrogens in hops. However, there is little evidence<\/a> that beer has a greater impact on testosterone than other forms of alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plant-based estrogens are found in a variety of common foods, such as wheat and potatoes. However, these foods do not have a known link to low testosterone. One older study showed<\/a> that both beer and wine decreased testosterone levels. The only difference was in the timing of the lower testosterone levels and the blood alcohol levels at which the effects occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, low testosterone levels can be reversed<\/a> after several weeks of not consuming alcohol. Further, researchers have found<\/a> that many of the effects of low testosterone, such as erectile dysfunction, are also reversible. Testosterone replacement therapy is also available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some testosterone replacement products are FDA-approved<\/a> for men with low testosterone caused by drinking. It\u2019s advised to refrain from drinking while using testosterone products to avoid worsening the problem. Further, testosterone is a Schedule III<\/a> controlled substance with a risk of abuse, addiction and dependence. Combining an addictive substance like testosterone with another addictive substance like alcohol \u2014 especially if your struggle with alcohol use has led to low testosterone levels \u2014 may be risky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some effects of alcohol abuse, including changes in testosterone levels, are reversible<\/a>. However, drinking can also cause hormonal changes that increase the risk of some irreversible health conditions. These include<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you struggle with drinking and are trying to overcome it, it is important to find a rehab facility that can effectively treat alcohol use disorder. A key part of cleansing your body is finding a detox facility that specializes in helping people carefully taper off alcohol while avoiding withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, a rehab facility staffed with alcohol addiction experts will be invaluable in helping you start an alcohol-free life. Our experts at The Recovery Village at Baptist Health are here to help you successfully quit drinking. Contact us<\/a> today to learn more about programs that can work well for your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Lower testosterone levels in men is a known side effect of alcohol use. In women, drinking may cause testosterone levels to increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcohol\u2019s impact on hormones like testosterone depends on<\/a> the amount that you drink. Generally, higher amounts of alcohol will have more impact on your hormone levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testosterone levels have been <\/a>shown to increase after several weeks of sobriety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drinking can raise testosterone levels<\/a> in females, as well as cause other hormonal abnormalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Low testosterone from drinking can<\/a> decrease libido, cause erectile dysfunction and make it difficult to ejaculate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Changes in testosterone levels caused by drinking alcohol can have far-reaching health consequences in both men and women. In some cases, these effects can be reversed. Alcohol\u2019s impact on the endocrine system, the part of the body that regulates hormones, is well known among experts. Drinking impacts many hormones throughout the human body, including hormones like testosterone […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11612,"parent":697,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2823","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alcohol"],"acf":{"written_by":287,"enable_medically_and_up":["Yes"],"medically_reviewed_by":289,"medically_reviewed_content":"This article was reviewed by a medical professional to guarantee the delivery of accurate and up-to- date information. View our research policy.<\/a>","up_to_date":"Medically Reviewed by Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD<\/a>","page_first_published_date":"20220302","page_last_edit_date":"20220302","highlighted_description":"If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, help is available. Speak with a Recovery Advocate by calling 888-648-0738<\/b><\/a> now.","key_takeaways":"","source":{"source_label":"View Sources","source_content":"Rachdaoui, Nadia; Sarkar, Dipak K. \u201cPathophysiology of the Effects of Alcohol Abuse on the Endocrine System<\/a>.\u201d Alcohol Research Current Reviews, 2017. Accessed October 25, 2020.\r\n\r\nSarkola, Taisto; Fukunaga, Tatsushige; M\u00e4kisalo, Heikki; Eriksson, Peter. \u201cAcute Effect of Alcohol on Androgens in Premenopausal Women<\/a>.\u201d Alcohol and Alcoholism, January 2020. Accessed October 25, 2020.\r\n\r\nRivas, Ana Marcell; Mulkey, Zachary; Lado-Abeal, Joaquin; Yarbrough, Shannon. \u201cDiagnosing and managing low serum testosterone<\/a>.\u201d Baylor University Medical Proceedings, October 2014. Accessed October 25, 2020.\r\n\r\nMartin, Sean A.; Atlantis, Evan; Lange, Kylie; et al. \u201cPredictors of Sexual Dysfunction Incidence and Remission in Men<\/a>.\u201d Journal of Sexual Medicine, February 18, 2014. Accessed October 25, 2020.\r\n\r\nBushak, Lecia. \u201cDo Hoppy Beers Cause Man Boobs, Higher Estrogen Levels, And \u2018Brewer\u2019s Droop\u2019?<\/a>\u201d Medical Daily, June 22, 2015. Accessed October 25, 2020.\r\n\r\nCouwenbergs, C.J. \u201cAcute effects of drinking beer or wine on the steroid hormones of healthy men<\/a>.\u201d Journal of Steroid Biochemistry, October 1988. Accessed October 25, 2020.\r\n\r\nRuusa, J., Bergman, B., Sundell, M.L. \u201cSex hormones during alcohol withdrawal: a longitudinal study of 29 male alcoholics during detoxification<\/a>.\u201d Alcohol and Alcoholism, October 1997. Accessed October 25, 2020.\r\n\r\nU.S. National Library of Medicine. \u201cAndrogel<\/a>.\u201d April 20, 2020. Accessed October 25, 2020.\r\n\r\nRachdaoui, Nadia; Sarkar, Dipak K. \u201cEffects of Alcohol on the Endocrine System<\/a>.\u201d Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, September 1, 2014. Accessed October 25, 2020.\r\n\r\nCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. \u201cPSRs by State<\/a>.\u201d April 10, 2019. Accessed October 25, 2020.\r\n\r\nNational Institutes of Health. \u201cUnderstanding How Testosterone Affects Men<\/a>.\u201d September 23, 2013. Accessed October 25, 2020."},"staff_member_heading":"Authorship","staff_member":[{"staff_member_title":"Editor","select_staff_member":287},{"staff_member_title":"Medical Reviewer","select_staff_member":289}],"insurance_label":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/2823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/2823\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/697"}],"acf:post":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/staff\/289"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/staff\/287"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Alcohol and Testosterone in Males and Females<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Alcohol and Male Testosterone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Alcohol and Female Testosterone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Different Types of Alcohol and Testosterone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How To Reverse Effects of Alcohol on Testosterone Levels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Alcohol and Testosterone Replacement Therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Long-Term Hormonal Effects of Alcohol Abuse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Finding Help for Alcohol Abuse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Does alcohol lower testosterone?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How much does alcohol lower testosterone?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Will quitting alcohol increase testosterone?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does alcohol increase testosterone in females?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the effects of alcohol on testosterone and sex drive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n