Caffeine

Caffeine is a psycho active substance that alters brain action and, through affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA), it impacts your fertility.

Caffeine can impact the female reproductive hormones in such way as to inhibit ovulation or cause irregular menstrual cycles. Also, medical studies show that women who do not drink coffee, are twice as likely to get pregnant compared to women who are moderate coffee consumers. Caffeine decreases the number of eggs retrieved during IVF. Consuming as little as 100 mg of caffeine per day (equal to 1 cup of coffee or 2 cups of tea) increases the risk of miscarriage by 14%. It is good to know that caffeine is contained in soft drinks, tea, coffee, chocolate and energy drinks.

In men, caffeine increases the levels of testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin which, in high amounts, can cause damage in sperm DNA and all sperm parameters – the number of sperm, the size and shape and the ability to move effectively.

Caffeine consumption during pregnancy (as little as 1 cup of coffee or 2 cups of tea per day) is associated with risk of low birth weight.

Caffeine disturbs the uterine lining which can prevent implantation.

Maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy decreases testosterone levels in male offspring. This can lead to decreased sperm size and shape, number and ability to swim, i.e. increasing the child’s risk of infertility later in life.

I hope this gives you some perspective next time you decide to reach to a cup of coffee, soda or other caffeinated beverage.