Estrogen and alcohol use in women: a targeted literature review

Alcohol is posited to affect sex steroid hormone concentrations, and a growing body of research has demonstrated menstrual cycle effects on women’s use of alcohol. The present targeted review synthesizes the literature examining the relationship between alcohol use and estradiol in women and suggests directions for future research.

Articles were identified using the PubMed database using the following criteria: published in English, presented original findings for women, were peerreviewed, and included measures of estradiol levels in the analyses. Twenty-nine articles were identified for inclusion.

Results from this review indicate acute alcohol use temporarily increases estradiol levels in women, and this may be strongest when gonadotropins are high. Regular alcohol use (≥1 drink per day) increases estradiol levels, but estradiol appears to be suppressed in women with alcohol use disorders and physiologic dependence. Alcohol use tends to be highest in women during ovulation, when estradiol is high, and progesterone is low.

Alcohol use increases estradiol levels in women, particularly in the presence of gonadotropins. More research is needed to assess the effect of estradiol on alcohol use in women. Research on the relationship of estrogen and alcohol use in women is needed to elucidate health outcomes through the lifespan.