Preconception Strategies. No. 2: Avoid Coffee

Western medical research has shown that coffee consumption has negative correlation with female fertility. Consumption of one to one and a half cups of coffee per day in one study and about three or four cups per day in other studies has been associated with delayed conception in women trying to get pregnant. Caffeine consumption equivalent to more than two cups of coffee per day has been associated with an increased incidence of infertility due to tubal disease or endometriosis. In another study, women who consumed more than one cup of coffee per day had a 50% reduction in fertility, compared with women who drank less coffee.

Traditional Chinese medical theory also stipulates that coffee is injurious to reproductive health. TCM says that using coffee as an energy boost is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul. The extra movement and boost of qi is the result of stealing from one's deeper energetic reserves (reproductive qi) in order to gain the short term energy boost. Over time this will result in depleted "essence" and the loss of reproductive resources.