Drinking 5 Cups of Coffee Daily Cuts Female Fertility in Half

If you're trying to conceive and drink multiple cups of coffee a day, here’s a number you’ll want to know: five. That’s the daily coffee threshold linked to a significant drop in pregnancy odds, especially among women undergoing fertility treatments like IVF.

According to a major study presented at the 28th annual congress of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), women who drank five or more cups of coffee daily had their chance of becoming pregnant cut in half compared to those who drank less. That’s a stark difference backed by data from over 3,900 IVF patients.

The Study Behind the Statistic

Researchers from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, led by Dr. Ulrik S. Kesmodel, analyzed data from 3,959 women undergoing in vitro fertilization. The team tracked each participant’s reported coffee consumption and adjusted the analysis for other variables including age, smoking status, alcohol intake, and body weight. Their key finding: women who consumed five or more cups of coffee per day had a 50% lower chance of conceiving. This effect was not observed among women who drank fewer than five cups daily.

Why the Concern Over Coffee and Fertility?

Coffee’s potential impact on fertility isn’t new to science, but findings have been mixed. Earlier studies produced conflicting results—some linked high caffeine intake to increased risk of miscarriage, while others found no harmful effects. More recent research, however, increasingly points to a broader pattern: excessive consumption of stimulants like coffee or tea, especially when combined with other factors such as a partner’s heavy drinking, can significantly reduce a woman’s likelihood of conceiving.

How Much Caffeine Is Safe When Trying to Conceive?

The UK’s National Health Service and fertility experts recommend that women who are pregnant or actively trying to conceive should limit their daily caffeine intake to 200 milligrams—that’s roughly equivalent to two cups of coffee. Going beyond this amount may interfere with your chances of getting pregnant, particularly if you’re relying on fertility treatments or have underlying risk factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cups of coffee is considered too many when trying to get pregnant?

More than five cups of coffee per day is linked to a 50% reduction in the chance of conceiving, based on a Danish IVF study involving 3,959 participants. Women drinking fewer than five cups did not show the same reduced fertility risk.

What is the safe caffeine limit for women trying to conceive?

Experts, including those in the UK, advise limiting caffeine intake to 200 milligrams per day—about two cups of coffee—when pregnant or trying to conceive, to optimize fertility chances.

Does coffee really affect fertility, or are the findings inconclusive?

While earlier studies had mixed results, recent research—including this large Danish IVF study—suggests a clear pattern: high daily coffee consumption (five or more cups) is associated with lower pregnancy rates, especially among women undergoing fertility treatment.

Could other drinks with caffeine also affect fertility?

The study focused on coffee, but other research links high overall caffeine intake from tea or other sources with reduced fertility. It’s the total daily caffeine that likely matters most when trying to conceive.

Does a partner’s alcohol intake impact female fertility too?

Yes, studies suggest that excessive alcohol consumption by a male partner can also contribute to reduced female fertility, compounding the effects of high caffeine intake.

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