Coffee - What Are The Facts
When your barista knows your usual order, but not your name...
If you are like me then your morning routine starts with a coffee. I just love it. It’s partly why I get out of bed in the morning.
So will a cup of coffee or two a day impact your overall health and specifically your fertility? Let’s look at the data.
It’s important to note however that studying the affects of caffeine can be difficult. Most studies are retrospective, looking back at behaviours (re-calling your consumption) which are subject to something called self-reporting bias.
Therefore, it can be quite difficult to correct for actual consumption as well as confounders like smoking and the other partner’s caffeine intake.
General Benefits of Coffee:
Coffee contains anti-inflammatory properties called Polyphenols. Polyphenols are micronutrients that we get through certain plant-based foods. They're packed with antioxidants and potential health benefits. It's thought that polyphenols can improve or help treat digestion issues, weight management difficulties, diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular diseases.
Coffee can reduce inflammation. In light of the most recent evidence, coffee consumption seems to be favorably related with health and to protect by metabolic impairment
Improve insulin sensitivity. Coffee consumption was inversely associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes in a dose-response manner. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee was associated with reduced diabetes risk.
Promotes healthy detoxification and metabolism of estrogen
May even reduce the risk of breast cancer
General Side Effects:
Remember, caffeine is a stimulant and each person has a different threshold when it comes to their intake versus effect as each individual has a different ability to metabolise caffeine (genetic). High caffeine intake has been linked to heavy periods, anxiety and insomnia and so if you have such reactions after one cup, your ability to metabolise it may be reduced compared to others and it would be wise to limit your consumption.
High caffeine has been linked to heavy periods.
The oral contraceptive pill has been shown to impair caffeine metabolism in women
The literature suggests that caffeine intake, possibly through sperm DNA damage, may negatively affect male reproductive function however evidence from epidemiological studies on semen parameters and fertility is however inconsistent and inconclusive.
One study on over 5000 Danish women has shown that coffee consumption during pregnancy (as little as 100 mg her day) increases the risk of spontaneous abortion x 1.6. While pre-conceptional caffeine consumption was not materially associated with an increased risk of SAB, consumption during early pregnancy was associated with a small increased risk of SAB. Another study found that 200 mg of caffeine daily versus none, increases the risk of miscarriage x 2. A further study however did not find any correlation to caffeine intake and risk of miscarriage. During pregnancy, caffeine consumption over 200 to 300 mg/day (2-3 cups/day) may increase risk for miscarriage
Caffeine and Your Fertility
It is in fact hard to draw any concise conclusion from all the studies available on coffee and natural conception as the data can often be conflicting. As per the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), they report that that about one to two cups of coffee per day is permissible. Their researchers concluded that women considering pregnancy could benefit from eliminating caffeine intake. “The data on caffeine intake and pregnancy remains somewhat inconclusive, however, it is hard to see any harm that could come to women or babies from reducing or eliminating caffeine,” said Hugh Taylor, MD, Vice President of the ASRM.
For men, consuming more than 2 cups per day may begin to have a negative affect. A survey done on a small group of couples (500) trying to conceive, with the male consuming more than 2 cups of coffee per day showed that the risk of miscarriage was higher. It appears that male consumption of caffeine may have an impact after the 200 milligrams per day. This is equivalent to about 1.5 – 2.0 cups of coffee per day.
Caffeine during Fertility Treatment
There have been 6 quality studies on coffee intake and the ability to conceive during IVF. The result show that 5 suggest moderate caffeine intake does not impact IVF success. Therefore as per the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), they report that that about one to two cups of coffee per day is permissible. Once pregnant, it is probably best to avoid caffeine consumption.
The Take Home:
Most experts say that for women, 2 cups of coffee or caffeine consumption less than 200 mg daily is probably OK for your fertility.
During pregnancy, caffeine consumption over 200 to 300 mg/day (2-3 cups/day) may increase risk for miscarriage and the general consensus is to cut out coffee during pregnancy.
It appears that male consumption of caffeine may have an impact after the 200 milligrams per day. This is equivalent to about 1.5 – 2.0 cups of coffee per day. Anything below that does not seem to have much of an impact.