Does Caffeine Affect Your Fertility?

There are many ways caffeine affects a woman’s fertility and pregnancy:

• Caffeine is known to impact the muscular movements of the Fallopian tube. The fertilization of the egg happens in the Fallopian tube and after fertilization, it is the Fallopian tube that moves the egg to the uterus. So anything that affects these muscular movements can also affect the position of the egg, which might end up in a place that is not optimum for a viable pregnancy. For this reason, it is found that caffeine reduces the probability of a woman getting pregnant by 27 percent.
• Studies have also shown some indication that caffeine impacts the maturation of the egg. A high quality and mature egg is necessary for conception.
• Research also indicates that increased caffeine in the diet is linked to increased chances of miscarriages. Heavy caffeine users have twice the probability of miscarriages than the non-users.
• If you are already pregnant, caffeine still possesses a threat to the pregnancy: it can cross the placenta and enter the baby’s system, hampering his growth and development; pregnant women also show heightened after-effects of caffeine as their metabolism is slower so caffeine is broken down at a slower pace.

[Read : Infertility : Female – Risk Factors, Causes, Treatment]

How Does Caffeine Affect on Men’s Fertility?

There is conflicting research on caffeine’s effect on men’s fertility. For instance, one study found that caffeine does not affect semen quality or sperm count. Another study found that heavy caffeine users have low success chances during fertility treatments such as IVF.

Another group of studies indicates a direct correlation between cola and sperm count, but strangely caffeine does not seem to be the villain here. So, while men do not have to be overly anxious about their caffeine intake as women, they still need to keep control over their consumption, especially if the couple has been trying for a child for some time or is undergoing fertility treatment.

[Read : Your Comprehensive Guide to an IVF Treatment]

What is a Safe Amount of Caffeine?

Unfortunately, there is no guided safe range for consuming caffeine. Generally, it is agreed that:

• Women trying to conceive should limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 mg per day.
• If you are on any kind of fertility treatment, it might be wise to reduce your intake even further – as much as 100 mg per day.
• If you are already pregnant, it might be wise to avoid any caffeine-rich food as the studies are not clear on its impact on the baby.

To give you an idea of how much is “200 mg of caffeine”, see the following guide:

• A cup of filter coffee contains 140 mg of caffeine.
• A cup of instant coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine.
• One cup of normal tea contains 75 mg of caffeine.
• A cup of green tea contains 50 mg of caffeine.
• A small piece of brown chocolate contains 50 mg of caffeine.
• One can of coke contains 40 mg of caffeine.

What Are the Sources of Caffeine in Food and Beverages?

Caffeine is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in more than 60 plants. Caffeine consumption in beverages varies enormously and is influenced, for example, by the amount consumed in the cup, its strength, and the amount consumed.

• Soft drinks such as Colas and other sodas, hot chocolate, tea, and coffee
• Anything with chocolate or coffee frosting contains caffeine, as do chocolate cake, chocolate-coated cookies, and chocolate-coated cookies.

So if you restrict yourself to one or at max two of the above items in a day, then you are alright. There are few things you need to keep in mind while putting the above inferences and research in perspective. While studies have proved a relation between high caffeine content and fertility, there are no high-quality studies done on this topic that show a direct link between caffeine and fertility.

FAQ’s

1. Can Caffeine Cause Problems Getting Pregnant?

Studies suggest that women who drink large amounts of caffeine may have a longer time becoming pregnant and a higher risk of miscarriage. However, the effects of caffeine on pregnancy are still controversial.

2. Does Caffeine Impact Egg Quality?

In spite of the fact that the exact mechanism by which caffeine affects fertility is unknown, studies in mice and monkeys have suggested that caffeine inhibits the maturation of the fertilized egg. Research suggests caffeine also alters ovulation and corpus luteum function by altering hormone levels.

3. Does Caffeine Impact Sperm Quality?

Semen parameters are not significantly affected by caffeine intake, at least not when taking it in the form of coffee, tea, or cocoa drinks. On the other hand, sugar-sweetened sodas containing caffeine can reduce sperm volume, sperm count, and sperm concentration.

Read Also: Does Laptop Heat Affect Fertility?