It seems any alcohol consumption prior to IVF may reduce the success rate of IVF. This is very new news - the study has not been officially published but it comes from a reputable group presenting at the recent American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) meeting. The Huffington Post carried this story:

"Research from the New York fertility clinic Reproductive Medicine Associates found that among 91 women undergoing IVF treatments, even modest amounts of alcohol could harm the development of unfertilized eggs. The women had undergone around three failed cycles of IVF, but findings showed that women who abstained from all alcohol had a 90 percent chance of a successful pregnancy over three years."

This is not what we have been advising our patients to date as, until this time, there was no good evidence that alcohol before IVF mattered. We know it can be harmful in pregnancy, but there was no appreciation that it may be harmful prior.

I will dig a little deeper once the paper is published and post again but just a heads up for those planning an IVF cycle soon -- minimize or stop your consumption of alcohol prior to your treatment cycle.