Do Lifestyle Habits Affect Fertility Treatment Outcomes?
Many studies have examined the relationship between lifestyle and fertility or IVF success. This article focuses on caffeine, diet, and exercise.

Caffeine has little effect on fertility treatment

Some studies show that consuming more than 200mg of caffeine daily during pregnancy (a large cup of Starbucks Americano exceeds this amount) is associated with a significantly increased risk of miscarriage. This is something pregnant women should be cautious about.

Keep in mind that caffeine isn’t only in coffee—tea, cola, and chocolate also contain caffeine. Pregnant women should be especially mindful of their dietary habits.

However, based on existing data, caffeine intake does not significantly affect egg retrieval count, fertilization rate, or live birth rate during IVF, meaning its impact on IVF success is minimal.

Mediterranean diet improves IVF outcomes

A 2010 study found that patients on a Mediterranean diet (rich in fish, vegetables, and plant-based oils) had higher pregnancy rates than those on high-protein, high-fiber, whole grain diets. It appears that IVF combined with a Mediterranean diet yields better results.

A 2012 study involving 199 couples also found that a balanced diet led to the highest pregnancy rates.

In short:
－Reduce processed foods
－Prioritize whole foods like vegetables, fruits, and fish
This is a better choice for couples trying to conceive.

Moderate exercise is best—too much or too little is unhelpful

Between 1993–2003, a study tracked the semen quality of 2,263 men prior to IVF. It found that most exercise patterns had no significant effect on sperm. Only one group showed a decrease: Men who cycled more than 5 hours per week had lower sperm counts.

A 2015 study also showed:
Men who watched TV more than 20 hours per week had 44% lower sperm concentration.
This suggests that sedentary lifestyles reduce sperm quality, and moderate exercise is beneficial.

A 2006 study on 2,232 women undergoing IVF found some interesting results:

Exercise patterns that reduced implantation and live birth rates:
– Women who exercised more than 4 hours per week but had less than 10 years of exercise habit

Exercise patterns that did not reduce outcomes:
– 1–3 hours/week + less than 10 years of exercise
– 1–3 hours/week + over 10 years of exercise
– Over 4 hours/week + over 10 years of exercise

In other words: If you don’t have a long-term exercise habit, don’t suddenly start intense workouts before your IVF cycle in hopes of boosting success.
Sudden overtraining may negatively impact your chances of getting pregnant.

For both men and women, a consistent and moderate exercise routine is encouraged. Don’t start last-minute changes just for fertility. Taking care of your body day-to-day is the best way to welcome a healthy pregnancy.