SEX & THE MENOPAUSE

Not only does alcohol consumption affect fertility but it can make the menopause tougher to deal with too. “When women reach the menopause their bodies are affected by changing hormones. Alcohol can trigger some symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats,” explains Dr Larsen.

“Menopause can disrupt your sleep because of night sweats and cause you to gain weight. Alcohol often makes both of these issues worse. It can also increase the risk of osteoporosis.”

It’s not just men who have to worry about “brewer’s droop” – too much alcohol can also affect women’s sex lives. While it’s often thought that a few glasses can relax you, the reality is it can dehydrate your vagina, making sex uncomfortable and often painful. According to Drinkaware, it can reduce lubrication, a problem for many menopausal women anyway, making it harder to orgasm and reducing the intensity of climaxing.

If that’s what it does to the inside of our bodies, what about the outside?

“Alcohol interferes with the normal sleep process so you often wake up feeling – and looking – like you haven’t had much rest. Alcohol dehydrates your body, including the skin. It’s also thought to deprive the skin of certain vital vitamins and nutrients.

“With two large glasses of wine containing the same calories as a burger, it’s easy to see why regular drinking can lead to weight gain. Alcohol also reduces the amount of fat your body burns for energy. Because we can’t store alcohol in the body, our systems want to get rid of it as quickly as possible, and this takes priority over absorbing nutrients and burning fat.”

Before you pour yourself a nice glass of red to take the edge off that bad news, any reported health benefits of vin rouge come from drinking tiny amounts, much less than a glassful.

If you’re still ignoring the health guidelines, think of your kids. If they grow up thinking it’s OK for one person to drink an entire bottle of Prosecco, they’re not getting the best role model. Whether it’s being shamed by the clinking of too many wine bottles in the recycling or the realisation that you can’t do certain things without a glass in your hand, it’s good to review your relationship with alcohol.

Dr Larsen states, “There is evidence that the difference between men’s and women’s alcohol consumption is shrinking, but our research shows that men and women differ in their approach to alcohol moderation. When women cut down they are more likely to say it’s to lose weight, whereas men are more likely to say it’s to save money or to be fitter.

“The UK Chief Medical Officers advise that both women and men should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week to keep health risks low and that it’s best to spread drinking evenly over three or more days, with several drink-free days per week.”

For me, it’s a bit like opening a packet of biscuits and learning to say no before I’ve demolished them all. Or I just need to remind myself there is no point in spending a fortune on posh skincare and then dehydrating my skin from the inside out... Time to pass the sparkling water please. For more info, visit drinkaware.co.uk >>

Too much booze leads to dehydration, making sex painful