This is due to several factors based on sex (biological) and gender (cultural). If you are ready to put alcohol addiction in the past and begin your journey to sobriety, contact us at Casa Serena. The staff here at our women-only addiction treatment center will work with you to design a comprehensive treatment plan focused on your unique needs and goals. If you would like to learn more about how you can get help with alcohol addiction, contact Casa Serena today. Alcohol use or even the anticipation of drinking signals the brain to release dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for creating feelings of happiness and joy.
How alcohol affects men and women’s bodies differently
Our programs are designed to address the unique biological, psychological, and social factors that influence women’s relationship with alcohol. We offer specialized support for women at every stage of life, from adolescence through menopause and beyond. Emerging research suggests that hormones such as estrogen and progesterone may influence alcohol’s effects and women’s risk for addiction. Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can affect how women experience alcohol and their likelihood of developing problems.
Factors that affect your body’s ability to process alcohol:
- These intersecting challenges make it harder to find treatment environments that feel safe and affirming.
- A review published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests that alcohol can lead to decreased sexual desire and arousal, especially when consumed in excessive amounts.
- The recommended alcohol intake for women is lower than for men, with guidelines suggesting no more than one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.
Activating the estrogen receptor ERα caused neurons to fire more often than normal in response to alcohol. Increased neuron firing releases more dopamine and could translate to a greater feeling of reward when drinking, making abuse more likely when estrogen levels rise. While the new study was conducted in mice, the findings may lead to breakthrough, sex-based treatments for alcohol Oxford House use disorder in humans, the researchers say.
Why can men drink more than women?
When we equip people with knowledge and compassionate support, we help break cycles of addiction before they begin. In addition, community advocacy and policy initiatives – women and alcohol such as expanding access to gender-specific rehab, funding research on sex differences in alcohol metabolism, and addressing stigma in healthcare – can create systemic change. One of the key differences between male and female alcohol consumption lies in how alcohol is metabolized.
Does Alcohol Affect Men And Women Differently?
In a recent Center for Disease Control and Prevention survey (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015), 18.2% of non-pregnant women of childbearing age and 3.1% of the pregnant women reported binge drinking in the past 30 days. Importantly, pregnant binge-drinkers reported more frequent episodes of binge drinking (4.6 vs 3.1 episodes) and more drinks during their heaviest recent binge episode (7.5 versus 6.0 standard drinks) compared with non-pregnant binge drinkers. The authors suggested that these trends might be a sign that women who binge-drink even when they are pregnant are more likely to have an alcohol use disorder than other binge-drinkers. 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.
Alcohol metabolism and body weight
Typically, the female body has less water than males and therefore maintains higher blood alcohol levels than males. An article published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests that women may be more susceptible to organ damage resulting from alcohol abuse. Common examples include liver damage, brain damage, heart disease, and breast cancer. Similarly, among pregnant women entering substance abuse treatment between 2000 – 2010, the percentage reporting alcohol use decreased from 46.6% to 34.8% while the percentage reporting drug use increased from 51.1% to 63.8% (SAMHSA, 2013). Nonetheless, rates of prenatal alcohol exposure remain high world-wide and in the US.