The teratogen that I am going to talk about in this assignment is Alcohol. Alcohol is always a synonym of festivities, celebrations, conviviality or simply a time to relax. I will focus on the evolution and consequences of women’s relationship with alcohol, the repercussions it can have on the development of the fetus and also the consequences it can have on the unborn child.

Women today have a relationship with alcohol that has evolved a lot. While it is recognized that men still drink more alcohol than women, the gap is narrowing and women are consuming more often and in larger quantities today than in the past. This is related to several factors, such as marketing, company image and mental load. However, the effects of alcohol are not the same in men and women because their bodies react in different ways. Men’s bodies have a stronger reaction for alcohol than women, so if a man and a woman drink the same amount of alcohol the damages will be different. “ Research shows that alcohol use and misuse among women are increasing.1,2 While alcohol misuse by anyone presents serious public health concerns, women who drink have a higher risk of certain alcohol-related problems compared to men.” It is also shown that the abuse of alcohol increases the chances of developing severe illnesses in women, such as, breast cancer, menstrual cycle dysregulation, high risk of fertility problems, miscarriage and fetal alcohol syndrome when pregnant.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can pose serious risks to both the mother and the developing fetus that can be irreversible. The placenta does not filter alcohol, so all alcohol consumed passes directly from the mother’s blood to the fetus. “Alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to the baby through the umbilical cord. Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and a range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities. These disabilities are known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Children with FASDs might have the following characteristics and behaviors.” One of the most severe consequences of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This condition can lead to physical, cognitive, and behavioral abnormalities in the child. Symptoms may include facial deformities, growth deficiencies, and intellectual disabilities.

While the teratogenic effect of alcohol on the embryo is undeniable, the repercussions on the development of the fetus are just as important as well as on the child after birth. The impact of primary alcohol- related malformations will have many consequences for the further growth of the fetus. It can result in long-term neurological and cognitive impairments in the child. This may affect learning abilities, memory, attention span, and overall cognitive function. Prenatal alcohol exposure also increases the chances of a preterm birth that leads to several problems, like low birth weight. “ That Danish cohort study of 18 228 singleton pregnancies showed that ten or more drinks per week at 16 and 30 weeks of gestation produced 2.9 and 3.6 times higher risks of preterm delivery, respectively, whereas the consumption of one to two drinks per week at 30 weeks of gestation was associated with a 31% lower risk of preterm delivery compared with women who consumed less than one drink per week.”

Alcohol consumption among pregnant women is a global societal problem because alcohol is clearly one of the most dangerous and toxic teratogens in view of the serious and definitive developmental disorders in all areas of the fetus. Alcohol abuse during pregnancy can lead to preterm birth, Fetal alcohol syndrome and neurological and cognitive problems for the child. In order to best inform women of the risks involved during pregnancy, it is imperative to focus on education and prevention to pregnant women.

Ressources:

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/women-and-alcohol
National Institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Women and Alcohol. Updated: December 2023.

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/alcohol-use.html#:~:text=Growth%20and%20central%20nervous%20system,stop%20alcohol%20use%20during%20pregnancy
Alcohol Use During Pregnancy.
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last Reviewed: October 3, 2023.

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1471-0528.15899#:~:text=3%20That%20Danish%20cohort%20study,associated%20with%20a%2031%25%20lower
Association between maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and risk of preterm delivery: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study.
S Ikehara,
T Kimura,
A Kakigano,
T Sato,
H Iso,
the Japan Environment Children’s Study Group. First published: 06 August 2019.