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Caffeine: Does it affect your fertility?

iced coffee on a table
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Does caffeine affect fertility?

It might. Some studies have found a link between caffeine consumption and a woman's ability to conceive, while others have not. Most experts say there just isn't enough evidence to make a definite conclusion about caffeine and fertility.

Although researchers haven't been able to find a clear connection between moderate caffeine intake and fertility problems, it's generally considered safe to consume 200 to 300 milligrams (mg) of caffeine daily while trying to conceive. That's up to two 8-ounce cups of coffee for a weak brew. If you get more than that, it might be a good idea to cut back.

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Which foods and beverages contain caffeine?

Coffee is one, of course. The amount of caffeine in a serving of coffee varies widely, depending on the type of bean, how it's roasted, how it's brewed – and, obviously, on the size of the coffee cup. (For example, espresso contains more caffeine per ounce, but it's served in a tiny cup. So a full cup of brewed coffee will actually deliver more caffeine.)

To manage your caffeine intake, you'll need to be aware of other sources, like tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, and coffee ice cream. Caffeine also shows up in herbal products and over-the-counter drugs, including some headache, cold, and allergy remedies. Read labels carefully.

Amount of caffeine in common foods and beverages

CoffeeAmountCaffeine
coffee, generic brewed8 oz95-200 mg
coffee, Starbucks brewed16 oz330 mg
coffee, Dunkin' Donuts brewed16 oz211 mg
caffé latte, misto, or cappuccino, Starbucks16 oz150 mg
caffé latte, misto, or cappuccino, Starbucks12 oz75 mg
espresso, Starbucks1 oz (1 shot )75 mg
espresso, generic1 oz (1 shot)64 mg
coffee, generic instant1 tsp granules31 mg
coffee, generic decaffeinated8 oz2 mg

 

TeaAmountCaffeine
black tea, brewed8 oz47 mg
green tea, brewed8 oz25 mg
black tea, decaffeinated8 oz2 mg
Starbucks Tazo Chai Tea latte16 oz95 mg
instant tea, unsweetened1 tsp powder26 mg
Snapple16 oz42 mg
Lipton Brisk iced tea12 oz5 mg

 

Soft drinksAmountCaffeine
Coke12 oz35 mg
Diet Coke12 oz47 mg
Pepsi12 oz38 mg
Diet Pepsi12 oz36 mg
Jolt Cola12 oz72 mg
Mountain Dew12 oz54 mg
7-Up12 oz0 mg
Sierra Mist12 oz0 mg
Sprite12 oz0 mg

 

Energy drinksAmountCaffeine
Red Bull8.3 oz77 mg
SoBe Essential Energy, berry or orange8 oz48 mg
5-Hour Energy2 oz138 mg

 

How can I cut back on caffeine?

If you decide to drink less caffeine, cut back slowly to avoid withdrawal symptoms, such as fatigue and headaches.

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You might want to start by switching to a drink that's half regular brew and half decaf. Or reduce the caffeine in homemade hot beverages by watering them down or brewing them for a shorter time. If you love to start your day with a cup of English Breakfast tea, steeping your tea bag for one minute instead of five reduces the caffeine by as much as half.

Once you've acclimated to life with little or no caffeine, you may find steamed milk with a shot of flavored syrup to be a nice coffee substitute – and the calcium will do you good.

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Sources

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

Mayo Clinic. 2022. Female fertility: Why lifestyle choices count. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/female-fertility/art-20045887Opens a new window [Accessed May 2023]

Mayo Clinic. 2022. Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372Opens a new window [Accessed May 2023]

National Infertility Association. Undated. Optimizing Your Fertility: Lifestyle Changes. https://resolve.org/learn/infertility-101/optimizing-fertility/Opens a new window [Accessed May 2023]

Nancy Montgomery
Nancy Montgomery is a health and wellness writer and editor. She lives with her husband in Berkeley, California, and has an adult daughter. She especially enjoys working on safety-related content, and organizing and presenting important information in a way that's easily accessible to parents.
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