The Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Reproductive Health and Menstrual Cycle in Adolescent Girls: A Systematic Review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate of Reproductive Health, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Department of Midwifery, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran.

3 Professor, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

4 Ph.D. Candidate of Reproductive Health, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

10.22038/ijogi.2025.91188.6552

Abstract

Introduction: Given the increasing prevalence of alcohol consumption in adolescence, examining its impact on reproductive health is of great importance. This study was conducted with aim to systematically review the available evidence on the association between alcohol consumption and outcomes related to menstrual cycle and fertility among adolescent girls.
Methods: In this study systematic review which was conducted with aim to investigate the impact of alcohol consumption on fertility and the menstrual cycle in adolescent girls, search was conducted in the databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, SID, and Magiran for observational studies published from 2010 through January 2025. The screening process, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed independently by two researchers. Out of 911 initially identified records, 6 studies met the eligibility criteria and were selected for the final analysis. Data analysis was performed qualitatively using a narrative synthesis approach.
Results: A total of 6 studies which met the inclusion criteria included in the final review. Findings revealed that alcohol consumption among adolescent girls is associated with a range of menstrual problems and reproductive outcomes. Alcohol use, as a high-risk behavior, often co-occurs with other unhealthy habits such as smoking and physical inactivity, and is linked to increased menstrual irregularities, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dysmenorrhea, and even early or unintended pregnancy.
Conclusion: This systematic review showed that alcohol consumption can be an influential factor affecting reproductive health and menstrual cycle regulation in adolescent girls. The findings highlight the need to address alcohol use in reproductive health education programs, designing multi-level preventive interventions, and conducting longitudinal studies using standardized measures to clarify causal relationships.

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References

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The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 28, Issue 9
November 2025
Pages 73-86

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