To have a child or not is a big decision. It’s a huge step, full of dreams and extensive planning for your future family. And when you’re getting ready for something that important, you want to give it your best shot, right?
A lot of people, once they decide to start a family, dive straight into the fun stuff, such as nursery colors or baby names.
But there’s one really important thing that often gets overlooked: preparing your body for a healthy pregnancy, even before you see that positive test. That means taking a close look at habits, especially substance use.
Here, we’ll talk about how long you should steer clear of substances before trying to conceive.
Alcohol
You probably know that it’s not safe to drink any amount of alcohol during pregnancy. But the same applies when you are trying to get pregnant.
Wine, beer, or spirits are all equally harmful. Drinking any amount can make it harder for both men and women to conceive.
For women, alcohol can affect ovulation and hormone levels. In men, heavy drinking can lower testosterone. It can also reduce sperm quality and quantity and can lead to erectile dysfunction.
Drinking alcohol before conceiving can also raise the risk of your baby being born at a lower-than-ideal birth weight.
Women must stop drinking one year before trying to conceive. Men, on the other hand, are advised to abstain from drinking for three months before planning a pregnancy.
Tobacco & Nicotine
Don’t smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or any other tobacco product if you’re trying to conceive. This applies to either partner.
Smoking cigarettes or vaping nicotine can significantly harm fertility for both partners. It can damage DNA in women’s eggs, alter hormone levels, and reduce the chances of natural conception.
It also increases risks like preterm birth and low birth weight. Birth defects, like cleft lip or palate, are also a concern. Nicotine can also damage a baby’s developing brain and lungs.
Smoking also harms male fertility. It reduces their semen volume, sperm count, their ability to move (motility), and their normal shape (morphology).
This is why quitting before trying to conceive is important. If you’re a woman, quit at least three months before trying. This allows for new, healthier eggs to mature, as the egg maturation process takes approximately this long.
But if you’re a man, give up smoking at least six months prior to trying for a baby. This can improve sperm count and quality.
Illicit Drugs
If you’re thinking about starting a family, cease using illicit drugs immediately.
These substances can disrupt hormone levels. This leads to reduced sex drive and erectile dysfunction in men. Women can have irregular or missed periods.
Men often use anabolic steroids to build muscle. These can cause the testes to shrink and completely stop sperm production. It can take up to two years for sperm production to recover.
Cocaine and heroin can also reduce testosterone levels and sex drive, potentially leading to permanent reproductive problems.
So if you’re planning to conceive, it’s best to be completely clean for at least six months. Some doctors recommend a full year, depending on the drug.
How to Quit Substance Use Before Conception
Quitting substance use is not easy. Had it been, anybody would have done it.
Going cold turkey—abstaining from a substance completely—is an option. But doing it without expert supervision can put you in danger. Quitting alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis can be dangerous. Withdrawal from these substances can cause irregular heartbeat, seizures, and even death.
Seek professional support instead. Detoxification under medical supervision can help the body safely clear the substance from its system. Doctors and nurses also help manage withdrawal symptoms.
While detox is necessary for safety, it is insufficient for long-term sobriety. Rehabilitation is a longer-term treatment. It focuses on the psychological and behavioral aspects of addiction. It helps you understand why you use it and how to build healthier habits.
Getting Reliable Help to Abstain from Alcohol and Drugs
When choosing where to go, make sure the facility offers accredited treatment programs. Those accredited meet the standard of care for treatment.
Take Arizona, for instance. The Council on Accreditation is the authority governing drug and rehab centers in the state. If you’re seeking a leading provider of detox and rehab in Arizona, look for those that are accredited by the Council on Accreditation.
The services of these providers often include medical detox and treatment programs for everything from opioids and cocaine to alcohol.
Some of their rehab strategies include medication-assisted treatment for co-occurring disorders, patient-oriented clinical detoxification, and relapse prevention and addiction education.
Purpose Healing Center is a case in point. Purpose offers accredited Arizona treatment programs, both inpatient and outpatient, for sobriety.
Investing in a Healthy Future is Worth the Effort
Every step that you take towards abstinence is a powerful investment in your health and the health of a future child. It is never too late to make a positive change.
Even if you used substances in the past, stopping now can significantly improve outcomes. It can create a healthy environment for your little one to grow, right from the very beginning.
