Coffee reduces pregnancy chances: Study

They found that around one in seven did, but drinking more than four cups of coffee a day cut chances of conceiving by around 26 per cent.

In fact, they noted that 16 per cent of the women went on to conceive naturally, 45 per cent within six months of their last IVF treatment, the BBC News portal reported.

Drinking alcohol at least three times a week carried the same risk as excessive caffeine intake. But smoking more than one cigarette a day and being overweight reduced the chances of pregnancy even more, the study revealed.

The researchers estimated that a 36-year-old woman who smoked, drank too much coffee and alcohol and was overweight, and who had been through three cycles of IVF, would have a five per cent chance of a natural pregnancy.

If she was a healthy weight and did not smoke or have too much caffeine or alcohol, her chance would be 15 per cent.

According to lead researcher Dr Bea Linsten, patients should be advised how they could maximise their chances of a natural pregnancy.

8220;We have to remind our patients that they may influence their chance of spontaneous pregnancy after IVF with a healthy lifestyle,8221; Dr Linsten said.