Caffeine and fertility

Once you’re pregnant you can’t drink, smoke, or eat half the things in your fridge, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that caffeine was your last remaining pre pregnancy vice. There have been several studies that present conflicting opinions about caffeine during pregnancy and impairing fertility, one of which found that women who drank 300 mg or more of caffeine took longer to conceive than those who took none.

Most practitioners will err on the side of caution and tell you to avoid caffeine or cut back on your caffeine intake if you are trying to get pregnant, during pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding. Try to limit your coffee consumption to about 300 mg per day (about 2 to 3 cups of coffee). Don’t forget caffeine can be found in tea, soft drinks,  some headache, cold and flu remedies and chocolate! This doesn't mean avoiding them altogether but it does mean cutting back. If you suffer from caffeine withdrawal symptoms, cut back slowly, or only fill your coffee cup half way with coffee and the other half with milk. Gradually you will be able to cut caffeine out of your diet altogether.

There are steps you should take to cut caffeine out of your diet if you are having any kind of fertility treatment such as IVF. Evidence shows that caffeine reduces a woman's success rate when using reproductive technology and whilst no-one knows why this actually happens, it's likely to be because high levels of caffeine affect your hormone balance which can affect ovulation from happening.

To be on the safe side when trying for a baby or if you have been trying for a few months unsuccessfully, try cutting out caffeine from the foods and drinks you eat especially if you take in more than 300mg a day. Read Healthy diet for mums to be for more advice on how your diet can effect your fertility.

Once you fall pregnant you are advised to keep caffeine levels as low as possible.

Caffeine is found naturally in tea, coffee and chocolate and is added to cola drinks, energy drinks and over the counter products. Quantities of caffeine vary from product to product so always check the labels first.

How much am I allowed to eat or drink?
This is a rough guide, but if you can drink much less then this, you're on the right track:
3/4 cups of coffee a day
6 cups of tea
8 cans of cola
8 small bars of chocolate
(cup size about 190ml)

If you have any unanswered questions, use our answers page to gain wisdom from other mums or our resident experts about this or any other issue you may have while trying for a baby.

• Feeding & Food: Caffeine and breastfeeding
• Mum Health: Headaches and your pregnancy
• Guide To : Pregnancy: Caffeine and Pregnancy
• Mum Health: Caffeine in Pregnancy
• Mum Health: Alternative treatments before and during pregnancy