Green Tea Fertility - Increased?
Green Tea Fertility - does it increase your chances of conception?
There are many conflicting opinions and research results on the subject of green tea enhancing chances of conception.
It is often suggested that women having difficulty conceiving might limit their caffeine intake. But recent studies suggest that beverages containing caffeine, particularly green tea, might even boost fertility.
In a study conducted at Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program of Northern California in Oakland (American Journal of Public Health, 1998), researchers found that women who drank more than one half cup of caffeinated green tea every day doubled their odds of conceiving.
No significant association was found for other caffeinated beverages; therefore researchers concluded that a chemical component of tea (other than caffeine - of which green tea has little compared to other teas and of course, coffees) might have been responsible for the increase in fertility.
Some credit was given to the possibility that the polyphenols and hypoxanthine, compounds found in tea, resulted in a greater number of viable embryos, and increased maturation and fertilizability of oocytes.
Should I or shouldn’t I drink green tea for fertility?
Because this conclusion opposes earlier findings that caffeine can inhibit fertility, the researchers acknowledge that their results may be attributable to green-tea’s association with other lifestyle factors that might enhance fertility such as smoking less, eating less fat and regular exercise.
So when it comes to green tea fertility - the best advice that we can give you is something you’ve heard before. Check with your doctor first. Do your research. Once that has been done, you can make a truly educated and well-informed decision about a delicate issue.
"If you enjoy green tea, there's no harm in drinking a cup or two a day while you're trying to conceive. But don't expect it to significantly increase your odds of getting pregnant." (Advice from Helen Kim, reproductive endocrinologist)
Once you are pregnant, limit your caffeine intake as caffeine crosses the placenta and may cause developmental problems in the fetus.
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