Does coffee consumption affect fertility?

From the Guidelines

Moderate coffee consumption, defined as 1-2 cups per day, is unlikely to significantly impact fertility in most individuals, according to the most recent and highest quality evidence available 1. When considering the effects of coffee consumption on fertility, it's essential to differentiate between moderate and excessive intake.

• For women, limiting caffeine to 200-300 mg per day (approximately 1-2 cups of coffee) is recommended, as higher intake may slightly increase the time to conception, and very high intake (>500 mg/day) may increase the risk of miscarriage 1.
• For men, moderate coffee consumption appears to have minimal effects on sperm quality, but very high intake may reduce sperm count and motility 1. To minimize potential impacts on fertility:
• Track daily caffeine intake from all sources, including coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate.
• Consider switching to decaf or herbal tea when trying to conceive.
• Avoid energy drinks or caffeine supplements, as they can contain high levels of caffeine. It's also important to note that individual sensitivity to caffeine can vary, so paying attention to your body's response is crucial 1. The most recent guideline updates on male infertility suggest that caffeine is not a significant risk factor for infertility, except for sperm aneuploidy 1. Therefore, moderate coffee consumption is unlikely to have a significant impact on fertility, but excessive intake should be avoided to minimize potential risks.

From the Research

Coffee Consumption and Fertility

• The relationship between coffee consumption and fertility is complex and has been studied extensively 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
• A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis found that coffee/caffeine consumption is associated with a significantly increased risk of spontaneous abortion (SAB) for high levels of caffeine intake (300 mg/day and 600 mg/day) 2.
• However, the same study found no clear association between coffee/caffeine consumption and natural fertility as measured by fecundability odds ratio or waiting time to pregnancy (TTP) 2.
• Another systematic review found that semen parameters did not seem to be affected by caffeine intake from coffee, tea, and cocoa drinks, but cola-containing beverages and caffeine-containing soft drinks may have a negative effect on semen volume, count, and concentration 3.
• The literature suggests that caffeine intake may negatively affect male reproductive function, possibly through sperm DNA damage, but evidence from epidemiological studies on semen parameters and fertility is inconsistent and inconclusive 3.
• A review of recent human research on coffee and health found that moderate coffee consumption (3-4 cups/day) is not associated with significant health risks and may have some health benefits, but pregnant women may need to limit their coffee consumption to 3 cups/day to exclude any increased probability of spontaneous abortion or impaired fetal growth 4.
• An older study found that consumption of three or more cups of coffee per day may have a modest effect on lowering infant birth weight, but the evidence is inconsistent and conclusions cannot yet be drawn 5.
• A prospective cohort study found that soda consumption is associated with reduced fecundability, while tea drinking is associated with a slight increase in fecundability, but the association between caffeine intake and fertility differed by beverage type 6.

Key Findings

• High levels of caffeine intake (300 mg/day and 600 mg/day) are associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion (SAB) 2.
• Moderate coffee consumption (3-4 cups/day) is not associated with significant health risks and may have some health benefits 4.
• Soda consumption is associated with reduced fecundability, while tea drinking is associated with a slight increase in fecundability 6.
• The evidence on the relationship between coffee consumption and fertility is inconsistent and inconclusive, and more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between coffee consumption and reproductive health 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.