The caffeine question comes up with every single one of fertility clients. We live in a society where people are extremely attached to their regular daily cup (or cups) of coffee – physically, emotionally and socially. When it comes to optimising your fertility, this is a trade off – along with tea, chocolate, energy drinks and soft drinks that also contain caffeine – which could be contributing to a reduced chance of conception and maintaining a healthy pregnancy to term. Studies have shown that 300mg of caffeine daily (2-3 cups of coffee) could reduce your chances of conception by up to 27% (some say 50%) and double the risk of miscarriage.
One study showed that in women who drank 4-5 cups of coffee a day or 5 cans of soft drink, this led to a 70% increase in oestrogen levels in the body during the follicular stage. At a time when the body is trying to produce a viable follicle for ovulation, an imbalance in the form of an oestrogen surge will negatively impact ovulation. Caffeine drinkers have been linked to having higher rates of endometriosis, one of the causes of sub or infertility. It is also thought that caffeine could reduce the efficiency of the egg travelling down the fallopian tubes to the womb.
One study showed that male infertility factors (relating to sperm count, motility, abnormalities) increase with the number of cups of coffee consumed on a daily basis. Bearing in mind that conception requires both a healthy egg and sperm, ensuring both male and female health for at least 3 months prior to conception (the time it takes for an egg and sperm to mature) is essential for optimal egg and sperm health and the creation of the healthiest possible baby – for all couples, not just those facing fertility issues.
Caffeine actually crosses over the placenta to the developing foetus causing a stress reaction just as it does in our bodies. This could potentially affect cellular growth in the foetus and blood flow to the placenta. A lack of efficient blood flow to the placenta can be a cause of miscarriage.
When preparing your body for conception, the aim is for optimal health and fertility. While the data regarding the link between caffeine and fertility is unclear, considering the above information, couples experiencing any form of sub-optimal fertility or having ART should be aiming to greatly reduce their daily intake of caffeine with a view to cutting it out of their diet altogether. Every little step taken to improve health could be the one to tip the balance and allow a successful conception/implantation to occur and carrying a healthy baby to term.
Finding alternatives to your regular coffee, black tea, soft drink, chocolate will greatly enhance your success in cutting down or, ideally, cutting them out of your diet altogether. It’s common to experience withdrawal symptoms for about 3 days after cutting out caffeine. Stick with it, it’s worth it!
To replace coffee and black tea:
- if you currently drink 4 or more cups of coffee a day, first try cutting down to 2, or even 1 a day
- replace with green tea which still contains caffeine but in much smaller doses, with a view to then replacing green tea with herbal caffeine-free alternatives
- try an alternative such as ‘Caro’ made from barley if it’s the taste you’re after. I’m not a coffee drinker myself, but have been told that although the taste is not the same, you still get the rich, full bodied flavour from ‘Caro’
- many of my ex-coffee drinking clients like the following replacements: Pukka’s ‘Morning Tea’, Rooiboos tea or (non-caffeine) Chai
To replace soft drinks :
- 100% pure fruit and vegetable juices – no sugar added! Investing in a juicer and making your own at home is one of the healthiest habits that you can adopt
- Vanilla Rooiboos tea – chilled if you prefer (it’s tastes just like drinking a cup of candy!)
- lemon/lime juice squeezed in pure water
Drinking at least 2 liters of water a day will give your body the fluid requirements it needs and will help reduce your craving for other drinks.
To replace chocolate:
Remember, it’s a question of habits and re-training your taste buds. After a few weeks of a different taste your taste will change and it will become easier.
Have you given up caffeine? What worked for you? What is/was your greatest challenge in doing it?
References:
Lucero et al. 2001
One study showed that in women who drank 4-5 cups of coffee a day or 5 cans of soft drink, this led to a 70% increase in oestrogen levels in the body during the follicular stage. At a time when the body is trying to produce a viable follicle for ovulation, an imbalance in the form of an oestrogen surge will negatively impact ovulation. Caffeine drinkers have been linked to having higher rates of endometriosis, one of the causes of sub or infertility. It is also thought that caffeine could reduce the efficiency of the egg travelling down the fallopian tubes to the womb.
One study showed that male infertility factors (relating to sperm count, motility, abnormalities) increase with the number of cups of coffee consumed on a daily basis. Bearing in mind that conception requires both a healthy egg and sperm, ensuring both male and female health for at least 3 months prior to conception (the time it takes for an egg and sperm to mature) is essential for optimal egg and sperm health and the creation of the healthiest possible baby – for all couples, not just those facing fertility issues.
Caffeine actually crosses over the placenta to the developing foetus causing a stress reaction just as it does in our bodies. This could potentially affect cellular growth in the foetus and blood flow to the placenta. A lack of efficient blood flow to the placenta can be a cause of miscarriage.
When preparing your body for conception, the aim is for optimal health and fertility. While the data regarding the link between caffeine and fertility is unclear, considering the above information, couples experiencing any form of sub-optimal fertility or having ART should be aiming to greatly reduce their daily intake of caffeine with a view to cutting it out of their diet altogether. Every little step taken to improve health could be the one to tip the balance and allow a successful conception/implantation to occur and carrying a healthy baby to term.
Finding alternatives to your regular coffee, black tea, soft drink, chocolate will greatly enhance your success in cutting down or, ideally, cutting them out of your diet altogether. It’s common to experience withdrawal symptoms for about 3 days after cutting out caffeine. Stick with it, it’s worth it!
To replace coffee and black tea:
To replace soft drinks :
Drinking at least 2 liters of water a day will give your body the fluid requirements it needs and will help reduce your craving for other drinks.
To replace chocolate:
Remember, it’s a question of habits and re-training your taste buds. After a few weeks of a different taste your taste will change and it will become easier.
Have you given up caffeine? What worked for you? What is/was your greatest challenge in doing it? References:Lucero et al. 2001