Caffeine is a big topic in the fertility world. Some people say you should give it up, some people say it doesn’t matter. The only clinical studies they’ve done have been on sperm, and it shows at least that it does make the sperm swim faster, but does that necessarily help fertility? What if they are jittery sperm?
I have only anecdotal evidence to rely on, but I have decided myself to stop coffee while trying to conceive. Many of my friends who were having trouble finally “got there” once they gave up their coffee/tea/soda. Also, many people in their first trimester of pregnancy have coffee aversion–to me, that says something right there.
Coffee remains this country’s chief source of caffeine. But did you know that those teeth-rotting soft drinks run a very close second and, in fact, are the major caffeine supplier for children. Black and green teas are another major source. Don’t forget the sneaky sources, like pain relievers. Prescription migraine medicines also often depend on caffeine for vasodilation–check your patient inserts!
Here’s a chart for comparison:
Item + Mean milligrams of caffeine
———————————————————————-
Coffee (5 fluid ounces)
Drip, automatic
137
Drip, nonautomatic
124
Percolated, automatic
117
Percolated, nonautomatic
108
Instant
60
Instant, decaffeinated
3
———————————————————————-
Tea
Black, imported brand, 5-minute brew (6 fluid ounces)
65
Black, US brand, 5-minute brew (5 fluid ounces)
46
Oolong, 5-minute brew (5 fluid ounces)
40
Instant (6 fluid ounces)
33
Green, 5-minute brew (5 fluid ounces)
31
Decaffeinated, 5-minute brew (6 fluid ounces)
1
———————————————————————-
Chocolate
Baker’s baking chocolate (1 ounce)
25
Sweet dark chocolate candy (1 ounce)
20
Milk chocolate candy (1 ounce)
6
Chocolate milk (8 fluid ounces)
5
Cocoa beverage (6 fluid ounces)
5
———————————————————————-
Selected soft drinks (12 fluid ounces)
Mountain Dew
54
Coca-Cola
45
Pepsi-Cola
38
RC Cola
36
7-Up, Sprite, Fresca, Hires Root Beer
0
———————————————————————-
Nonprescription drugs (standard dose)
Weight control aids
168
Diuretics
167
Alertness tablets
150
Analgesic/pain relief tablets
41
Cold/allergy remedies
27
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