What are the contraindications for women drinking red wine?
Dec 09, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
Women should pay attention to health boundaries when drinking red wine, which generally include contraindications during pregnancy and breastfeeding, menstruation, medication use, for those with liver disease, and against excessive consumption. Alcohol in red wine can pass through the placenta or breast milk and affect fetal or infant development, potentially causing neurological damage, developmental delays, and other issues; thus, red wine consumption must be strictly avoided during these periods to protect maternal and child health.
Women should pay attention to health boundaries when drinking red wine, which generally include contraindications during pregnancy and breastfeeding, menstruation, medication use, for those with liver disease, and against excessive consumption. Specific details are as follows:
1. Contraindication during pregnancy and breastfeeding: Alcohol in red wine can pass through the placenta or breast milk and affect fetal or infant development, potentially causing neurological damage, developmental delays, and other problems. Strict abstinence is required during this period to protect maternal and child health.
2. Contraindication during menstruation: Women's immunity decreases during menstruation. Alcohol may stimulate blood vessel dilation, possibly increasing menstrual bleeding, prolonging the period, and exacerbating dysmenorrhea, dizziness, fatigue, and other discomforts, thus impairing physical recovery.
3. Contraindication during medication: Red wine may interact with various medications such as antibiotics, sedatives, sleeping pills, and antihypertensives, reducing drug efficacy or causing adverse reactions such as nausea, palpitations, and blood pressure fluctuations. Alcohol should be strictly avoided during medication.
4. Contraindication for liver disease patients: The liver is the primary organ responsible for alcohol metabolism. Patients with liver disease already have impaired liver function; consuming alcohol increases the liver’s burden, worsening the condition and potentially leading to serious complications such as liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.
5. Contraindication against excessive consumption: Long-term or excessive drinking may lead to alcohol dependence, damage the cardiovascular system, disrupt endocrine balance, and cause issues such as dull skin, insomnia, and mood swings, harming overall health.
Red wine consumption should be limited in frequency and quantity, and should not be consumed on an empty stomach. High-quality products should be purchased from reputable sources. Strict abstinence is necessary during special physiological periods or illness. Consumption should be stopped immediately if symptoms such as dizziness or nausea occur. A healthy lifestyle should be prioritized without relying on alcohol to regulate emotions.
