Caffeine and caffeinated beverage consumption and fecundability in a preconception cohort

Wesselink, A. K., Wise, L. A., Rothman, K., Hahn, K. A., Mikkelsen, E. M., Mahalingaiah, S., & Hatch, E. E. (2016). Caffeine and caffeinated beverage consumption and fecundability in a preconception cohort. Reproductive Toxicology, 62, 39-45. DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.04.022

Caffeine is an adenosine receptor antagonist that may influence fertility by affecting ovulation, menstrual characteristics, or sperm quality. We studied the association between female and male preconception caffeine intake and fecundability in a North American prospective cohort study of 2135 pregnancy planners. Frequency of caffeinated beverage intake was self-reported at baseline. Outcome data were updated every 8 weeks until reported pregnancy; censoring occurred at 12 months. Adjusted fecundability ratios (FR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using proportional probabilities regression. Total caffeine intake among males, but not females, was associated with fecundability (FR for >/=300 vs.