Generally, women are more sensitive to alcohol than men. In addition to the 
usual consequences, female alcoholism produces specific health problems and 
presents great risks in pregnancy: maternal alcoholism is the largest avoidable 
cause of mental retardation in the new born in western countries (see Alcohol 
and pregnancy). Female alcoholism is often associated with depression.
The female alcoholic
Anxiety, depression and loneliness are found in the majority of female 
alcoholics (1, 2). Nearly 80% are aged 35 years or more, of whom 51% are 35 to 
50 years. Almost 80% of women justify their alcoholism by psychoaffective 
problems (1,3). 
Female susceptibility to alcoholism
At equal weight and age and the same amount of alcohol, blood alcohol in women 
is higher than in men (1, 3, 4). The enzyme implicated in the degradation of 
alcohol has a lower activity in women which is often used to explain this 
phenomena (1, 3-5). In addition, the tissues and blood alcohol concentration 
increases faster in women than in men because of their lower amount of body 
water (1, 3). Fluctuations in ovarian hormones during the menstrual cycle affect 
the metabolism of alcohol. Also, oral contraceptives and the menopause increase 
susceptibility to alcohol (1, 3-6).
Health problems associated with female alcoholism
Cirrhosis appears more quickly in women than in men having the same daily 
consumption of alcohol. A larger number of alcoholic women die from cirrhosis of 
the liver than alcoholic men. The reasons for this sensitivity are not yet 
elucidated. The combination of oestrogens and alcohol could be harmful to the 
liver (1, 3, 4).
Chronic consumption of alcohol in women increases the risk of breast cancer (1, 
2).
Chronic intoxication can cause sterility in alcoholic women (1).
Female alcoholism and depression
Female alcoholics frequently present an associated depression, which is 
different from men (1, 7). Almost 50% of female alcoholics have had at least one 
suicide attempt. Some women seem to be more susceptible, especially those in the 
age range 35 - 49 years , single women , divorced women (3). 


References :
Glass-Crome I. B. Biological Aspects of Alcoholism-Implications for 
    Prevention, Treatment and Policy. Gender Related issues in Alcohol Problems 
    Research-a Special Need Group. pp163-176. B.Tabakoff & P.L.Hoffmann Editors. 
    1995. 
    Anderson P. Alcohol and Public Policy. Alcohol and risk of physical harm. 
    Cancer of the female breast. pp 82-103. 1995. 
    Archambault J C et Chabaud A. Alcoologie. Masson. 1995. 
    Mezey E. Alcoholism metabolism in men and women-reply. Alcoholism (NY), 14: 
    785-786, 1990. 
    Frezza M. High blood alcohol levels in women : The role of decreased gastric 
    alcohol consumption. Alcohol dehydrogenase and first-pass metabolism. New 
    England Journal of Medecine 322(2):95-99, 1990. 
    Tate D.L. & Charette L. Personality, alcohol consumption and menstrual 
    distress in young women. Alcohol : clinical and experimental research, 15: 
    647-652. 
    Harper C.G. et coll. The effects of alcohol on the female brain - a 
    neuropathological study. Alcohol and Alcoholism 25: 445-448, 1990. 
    


 
 


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