Drinking 4 Cups of Coffee Daily Lowers Pregnancy Chances

If you’re trying to conceive, your daily coffee habit might be working against you. New research presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Barcelona reveals that high coffee consumption significantly lowers a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant.

Women who drink more than four 236.6ml cups of coffee per day can see their chances of pregnancy drop by 26–30%, a figure on par with the effects of regular binge drinking, smoking, or obesity.

What the Dutch Study Found

Researchers from Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen (formerly reported as Nijmegen/Netherlands, clarified here as part of the Dutch research effort) tracked the health and dietary habits of nearly 9,000 women of childbearing age. Their findings showed a clear link between high daily coffee intake and reduced fertility. Specifically, consuming over four cups daily — each cup around 236.6ml — was associated with up to a 30% drop in the likelihood of conceiving.

How Coffee Intake Affects Fertility

The study didn’t explore the biological mechanism directly, but researchers compared the fertility impact of excessive coffee consumption to other well-known risk factors. Drinking more than four cups of coffee per day had a similar negative effect on pregnancy rates as consuming alcohol three or more times per week, being obese, or smoking regularly. Obesity was linked to a 29% drop in pregnancy chances, while smoking reduced the likelihood by over a third.

How Much Coffee Is Too Much?

According to the study, the tipping point appears to be four 236.6ml cups of coffee per day. That’s roughly 946.4ml of coffee daily. Women who stayed below this level did not show the same significant reduction in fertility. This suggests moderation is key when trying to conceive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does drinking four cups of coffee a day really reduce my chance of getting pregnant?

Yes. According to a Dutch study of nearly 9,000 women, consuming more than four 236.6ml cups of coffee daily can lower your chance of pregnancy by 26–30%. This effect is similar in magnitude to regular binge drinking, smoking, or being obese.

What counts as one cup of coffee in this study?

One cup was defined as approximately 236.6ml. Four of these equal about 946.4ml of coffee consumed per day. That’s roughly four standard-sized mugs or medium cups from most coffee shops.

Is decaffeinated coffee included in these findings?

No, the study specifically measured regular caffeinated coffee intake. There is no data in this research about decaf coffee and its effects on fertility.

Does this apply to both men and women?

The study focused solely on women’s coffee consumption and its impact on their pregnancy chances. There is no information provided about how a male partner’s coffee intake affects fertility outcomes.

How does coffee compare to alcohol or smoking when trying to conceive?

The fertility impact of drinking more than four cups of coffee daily is similar to drinking alcohol three or more times per week, being obese, or smoking — all of which are known to reduce the likelihood of getting pregnant.

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