Among adults, excessive or problem drinking is associated with greater frequency of sexual intercourse and greater number of past sexual partners (Graves & Leigh, 1995; Shillington, Cottler, Compton, Spitznagel, 1995), including more casual sexual partners (Graves, 1995; Michael, Gagnon, Lauman, & Kolatta, 1994), which also increase risk for STI following from unprotected sexual intercourse (Ericksen & Trocki, 1994). However, alcohol-related reproductive dysfunctions have been reported in both animal and human studies (Emanuele, Wezeman, & Emanuele, 2003; Emanuele & Emanuele, 2001), suggesting likelihood of pregnancy and subsequent childbearing may decrease with continued use and misuse of alcohol. In women, even moderate alcohol consumption is associated with menstrual, gynecological, and obstetric problems that include infertility and spontaneous abortion or miscarriage (Abel, 1997; Hakim, Gray, Zacur, 1998; Jensen, Hjollund, Henriksen, Scheike et al., 1998; Kesmodel, Wisborg, Olsen, Henrisksen, & Sechler, 2002; Mendelson & Mello, 1998; Ryback, 1977; Wilsnack, Klassen, & Wilsnack, 1984). Alcohol effects are also observed in men, with heavy or chronic consumption associated with lower sperm count and impotence (O’Farrell, Kleinke, & Cutter, 1998; Wright, Gavaler, & Van Thiel, 1991).
