Caffeine, alcohol, smoking, and reproductive outcomes among couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatments

Abstract

During the past decade, as the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has continued to increase worldwide, research investigating whether modifiable lifestyle factors, such as alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, may affect ART outcomes has grown. Despite the vast literature, there is still uncertainty regarding the effects of some of these exposures on ART outcomes. The objective of this review is to summarize the epidemiologic literature on intakes of caffeine and alcohol, smoking, and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing ART. Of the five epidemiologic studies on caffeine intake and ART outcomes, only one found a significant negative effect of caffeine intake on live birth following ART. There have been six epidemiologic studies exploring whether alcohol intake is associated with fertility outcomes among women undergoing ART. Three studies assessed current alcohol consumption and observed a negative effect on outcomes such as fertilization, embryo quality, and implantation. When alcohol intake in the year before treatment was assessed, no relationships were observed with clinical outcomes following ART. Finally, numerous epidemiologic studies and a handful of meta-analyses have confirmed that female current smokers have worse ART outcomes compared with nonsmokers. Although former smokers tend to have better ART outcomes than current smokers, very few individual studies have investigated the influence of smoking cessation on ART outcomes. Literature on male smoking, drinking, and caffeine habits in relation to ART outcomes is even sparser and inconsistent, making it difficult to draw strong conclusions on that topic. In summary, there is little evidence supporting a detrimental effect of moderate caffeine intake on ART outcomes. Current consumption of alcohol may have a negative effect on ART outcomes, but at present the evidence is limited. Women who currently smoke cigarettes have been consistently found to have poorer ART outcomes, including reduced live birth rates, but a quantification of the benefits of smoking cessation is lacking.

The potential role of central obesity in male infertility: body mass index versus waist to hip ratio as they relate to selected semen parameters

“…In our study no information about subject's smoking or alcohol consumption were available. Although a recent review article about the relationship between infertility and lifestyle characteristics such as smoking and alcohol intake [30] found no evidence that either alcohol or smoking would influence semen quality and therefore ART therapy among infertile men, further studies should explore this. This suggests that while certain lifestyle factors might be influential among males in the general population, those might not apply to the special population of infertile menthe study population in our manuscriptwhose infertility reasons might be Fig.…”

Pretreatment maternal lifestyle and outcomes of assisted reproduction: an Italian cohort study

“…6 A recent systematic revision of the literature confirmed that average alcohol intake before ART initiation did not have any impact on the outcomes, whereas intake at the start of ART cycle had a negative effect on fertilisation, embryo quality and implantation. 7 Cigarette smoking is the most common lifestyle factor that could affect IVF outcomes Strengths and limitations of this study ► This study analysed several lifestyle factors of women interviewed in the same institution, participation was practically complete, and information on nutritional status was also available. ► Smoking and drinking habits were self-reported by women, so some underestimates could have occurred.…”

Effectiveness of a therapeutic multiple-lifestyle intervention taking into account the periconceptional environment in the management of infertile couples: study design of a randomized controlled trial – the PEPCI study

“…Indeed, exposure to pollution, radiation, environmental toxicants, and endocrine disrupters is already known to impact fertility in both males and females [81]. Lifestyle factors such as addictions (tobacco, alcohol, drugs), inadequate diet, lack of physical activity, overweight, obesity, metabolic syndrome, inadequate sleep, and heightened stress levels may also compromise male and female fertility [2,3,27,30,31,81]. These lifestyle factors are of interest since they may be reversible and there is a possibility of acting on them.…”

“…It affects approximately one in six couples seeking pregnancy in France or other western countries [1]. Many lifestyle factors of the pre-and periconceptional environment (e.g., weight, diet, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, drugs, physical activity, stress, sleep) have been identified as risk factors for infertility in both males and females [2,3]. Thus, the high prevalence rates of unhealthy diets and lifestyles in the reproductive population of industrialised countries are worrisome [4].…”

“…Besides diet and physical activity, addiction (tobacco, alcohol, and drug use), stress, and sleep are other modifiable factors that should be considered. It is recognised that a high level of consumption of tobacco, alcohol, or caffeinated beverages can have a negative impact on both female and male fertility [3,[33][34][35]. Stress has been associated with a negative impact on male fertility (i.e., on sperm concentration, mobility, and morphology) [36].…”