Too much coffee ‘can reduce chance of IVF success’

A study in Denmark has revealed a link between excessive coffee intake and a reduced chance of success from in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment among women.

Investigators who followed up almost 4,000 IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients found that consumption of five or more cups of coffee a day reduced clinical pregnancy rates by 50 percent and live birth rates by 40 percent.

According to the report, this adverse impact is comparable to the detrimental effect of smoking and supports existing theories about a link between caffeine and fertility.

Dr Ulrik Schioler Kesmodel from the Fertility Clinic of Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark noted that the evidence on this trend remains limited, while no harmful effects were observed among those drinking lower amounts of coffee.

However, he added: "It does seem reasonable, based on our results and the evidence we have about coffee consumption during pregnancy, that women should not drink more than five cups of coffee a day when having IVF."

This comes after a US study published earlier this month suggested that coffee could offer a level of protection against basal cell carcinoma.