Why Alcohol Affects Women Differently

Past alcohol use disorder research focused on men. Alcoholism (AUD) in women is rising, and men and women drink for different reasons and face different risks. Women drink to relieve stress, and men drink for pleasure and socializing.

Men and women react differently to alcohol, especially women. The Yale Program on Sex Differences in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), commonly called alcoholism,  has researched neurobiological, psychological, and treatment differences between men and women with AUD for five years. This research suggests that female alcohol use disorder differs from the male disorder. Therefore, AUD in women needs a gender-specific approach.

“Alcohol use disorder is incredibly heterogeneous,” says Yale SCORE director Sherry McKee, PhD, professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine (YSM). Heterogeneous means it varies greatly between individuals. “Not all medications work for everyone. Sex—a person’s biological classification as male or female—is a crucial aspect of our research that has been overlooked.”

A Yale press release found significant gender differences in AUD, binge drinking, metabolism, overdose risk, and treatment. Despite being a Group 1 carcinogen and the WHO warning that no alcohol is safe, consumption rises. Alcohol risks are higher and deadlier for women.

Who Drunks More? A Pattern Change

Historically, men have consumed more alcohol than women. The Yale Program states that U.S. women have now caught up or surpassed men. Health consequences are severe. From 2016 to 2021, alcohol-related deaths rose 35% in women and 27% in men, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Studies show ER visits rose 70% in women and 58% in men from 2006 to 2014. Female alcohol-related hospitalisations rose 70% from 2000 to 2015, compared to 43% in men.

Alcohol-related deaths are rising faster in women and are driven by smaller amounts. Women need only 1.8 drinks per day to raise their premature death risk, while men need 3.2. While binge drinking is still more common in men, women are catching up.

Blood Alcohol Variations

Women’s alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes are 40% less active. So, when a woman and a man the same age and weight drink the same amount, the woman will have a higher blood alcohol content (BAC).

According to experts, if both are 68 kilograms and 48 years old, and each consumes three drinks in two hours, the man will be significantly under the legal limit for driving, while the woman will be over, solely due to differences in alcohol metabolism.”

Women are more prone to alcohol poisoning due to faster intoxication and higher BACs, even with less alcohol. Liver diseases like hepatitis and cirrhosis are more common in women. Stress and negative emotions drive women to drink more than men.

Alcohol, Females, Brains

The women’s prefrontal cortex develops earlier than the men’s, which reduces impulsivity. The prefrontal cortex manages impulse control and decision-making. The amygdala, another brain region, plays a crucial role in controlling emotional responses, particularly fear. Anxiety and other mood disorders are more common in women due to amygdala reactivity. This may explain why women drink alcohol to cope with negative emotions more than men. These findings may also explain why women who experienced early childhood stressors like abuse or neglect are more likely to develop alcohol use disorder.

Men are more motivated by rewards, while women are more motivated by stress and emotional regulation.

Health Risks for Drinking Women

Women who drink are more likely than men to suffer brain damage, cognitive problems, breast cancer, heart disease, liver injury, and immune dysfunction. Female alcoholics often experience fatigue, nausea, and shortness of breath, not chest pain. Female heart attack survivors fare worse due to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Women who drink are more likely to have mental health issues, suicide, and pregnancy complications. Alcohol can cause menstrual irregularities and hormonal imbalances.

Men release more dopamine when they drink, which may explain gender differences in reward and craving. Scientists are studying the neuroimmune and hormonal effects to develop more effective treatments.

What Women with AUD Do Need

AUD diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment must be tailored to be gender-specific for women. Yale experts remind us that Antabuse and Naltrexone were approved after male-dominated studies. Research shows that women are more likely to experience side effects like nausea and sleep disturbances from naltrexone, making them less likely to stick with treatment.

Psychotherapy as an effective option

Psychotherapy is an effective approach to treating alcoholism. Hope Trust™ has been providing addiction management services for all genders, including the LGBTQ+ community, with gender sensitivity. Recovery plans are tailored to each client’s gender, cultural, and social background.

You can reach out to an addiction therapist online, from anywhere in the world!

Click www.hopetrustindia.com for an online appointment with an expert.