The accelerated or compressed progression of alcohol-related problems and their consequences observed in women relative to men, referred to as “telescoping,” highlights sex differences in the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, cognitive, and psychological consequences of alcohol. Brain volume deficits affecting multiple systems, including frontolimbic and frontocerebellar networks, contribute to impairment. Risks vs. Benefits Women who drink heavily (five or more drinks on the same occasion on five or more days per month) are more likely than men to develop liver disease (including hepatitis and cirrhosis) and to suffer from alcohol-induced brain damage. And when compared to women who either don’t drink or drink in moderation, women who drink heavily are also at increased risk of developing breast cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and reproductive issues, including infertility. Yet as much as we hear about the risks of alcohol, it also seems there are a growing number of studies highlighting the benefits of that glass of red wine.

“It’s logical that we would see these sex differences in alcohol-related deaths considering the literature has been showing that the gap in consumption has been narrowing and complications in women are rising,” he says. A portion of the stark increase may also be attributable to the opioid epidemic, since people tend to abuse more than one substance simultaneously, he says. They’re at greater risk for hangovers, blackouts, liver disease, alcohol-induced cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. One study found alcohol-related visits to the emergency room from 2006 to 2014 increased 70% for women, compared with 58% for men.

Sex Differences in Alcohol Effects on Brain Structure and Function

Wine glass capacity has increased sevenfold over 300 years, one study found. It’s true that when you group people by how much they drink, those who imbibe light to moderate amounts of alcohol appear to have lower rates of heart disease compared to others, he noted. Research shows the rate of women ages 35 to 50 having five or more drinks in a row rose twice as fast as men over the last decade.

1. The majority of the studies were conducted in North America, and no studies were identified from Oceania, South America, and Europe.
2. Alcohol can lead to a quicker decrease in mental functioning among women compared to men.
3. Historically, women have tended to feel a greater sense of shame about drinking and getting drunk than men, but it appears that among younger women, this stigma may be fading.

However, few substance abuse treatment programs provide adequate treatment of psychiatric disorders. Plus, women have a “telescoping,” or accelerated, course of alcohol dependence, meaning that they generally advance from their first drink to their first alcohol-related problem to the need for treatment more quickly than men. Trends suggest that white, employed women are drinking greater amounts of alcohol and with greater frequency. Some of this increase may reflect a greater comfort on the part of women to discuss their drinking.

Alcohol’s Effects on Cognition in Women

Women are also more likely to abuse alcohol and other substances in order to self-medicate problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress, or to cope with emotional difficulties. Officials in Laos have released the names of three tourists — including one American — who died of suspected methanol poisoning celebrities with fetal alcohol syndrome from drinking tainted alcohol. Numerous studies, including our own, have demonstrated that alcohol consumption can have harmful effects on sexual function. These studies have revealed that alcohol is a depressant that impairs sensory input and reduces sensitivity to touch, resulting in decreased libido, arousal, and intensity. Alcohol can also cause delays in achieving orgasm and reduce blood flow to the genital area, leading to vaginal dryness 29–31.

U.S. Alcohol-Related Deaths Have Doubled, Study Says

While many are able to drink responsibly, alcohol use does pose unique risks to all women. While men are more likely to drink alcohol than women, and to develop problems because of their drinking, women are much more vulnerable to alcohol’s harmful effects. If you’re unhappy with your alcohol use, it’s never too late to consider cutting back or quitting. A large study of women who quit drinking demonstrated an improvement in their mental well-being. Talk to a trusted friend, relative or your health care team if you need help. The deaths of two Australian teenagers, a British woman, an American man and two Danish women – and reports of others taken ill – prompted several Western nations to warn their citizens of the potentially fatal consequences of drinking tainted alcohol in the Southeast Asian country.

Societal pressures and other community factors may influence people’s decisions to take certain health risks. People may also be more likely to engage in certain health risk behaviors because of individual factors, such as when they drink excessively. This can put a person at risk of becoming ill, getting injured, or dying sooner.

And in June, researchers reported that rats given the new weight-loss drug semaglutide (aka Wagovy) reduced their desire to imbibe. Moreover, women who drink develop a greater number of medical problems, and at much lower alcohol levels, than men. Women who consume less than two drinks a day increase their risk of death from any cause, according to an analysis published in March. Women are the fastest-growing segment of alcohol consumers in the United States, increasing the potential number of women who across their life span could develop negative health consequences related to alcohol consumption. These articles examine the current literature on the screening, diagnosis, prevalence, risk factors, health consequences, and treatment for women experiencing alcohol-related problems. There is no known safe amount of alcohol consumption for women who are pregnant or might become pregnant.

As part of a research study, Sugarman and her colleagues gave women struggling with alcohol use information on how alcohol affects women differently from men. Some participants had been in detox 20 times yet had never heard this information, Sugarman says. Yet when it comes to prevention and treatment of alcohol-related health issues, “that message is not really getting out there,” Sugarman says.

Sure, she got more refills than some and missed classes while nursing hangovers, but she couldn’t have a problem, she thought. People who drive while intoxicated from alcohol and are involved in deadly motor vehicle crashes are more likely to be men than women. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Women with young children need access to appropriate childcare services before they can undergo treatment.