Males and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Drinking in Males and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Summary

How alcohol affects the male sperm is currently being studied. Whatever the effects are found to be, a father's drinking is not a cause of fetal alcohol syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome and other fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are caused specifically by the mother's alcohol use during pregnancy. However, the father's role is important. He can help the woman avoid drinking alcohol during pregnancy. For example, he can encourage her to abstain from alcohol by avoiding social situations that may involve drinking. He can also help her by avoiding alcohol himself.