Drinking has been linked with sexual behaviors that often include risky contraceptive practices. With unplanned pregnancy is a leading cause of abortion, elective abortion may also play a role. While we observed risk of AD 3–4 times higher for women who report a previous abortion, associations between reproductive timing and abortion were nonsignificant. Without adequate and updated assessment of abortion and importantly timing of abortion (c.f., Fergussen, Horwood, & Ridder, 2006) in women and in the female partners of men, we are unable to rule out the contribution of abortion to observed associations between AD and reproductive onset.
