While previous research has suggested that women who drink coffee and other caffeinated beverages regularly may experience fertility problems, a new study did not find that coffee drinking had a significant effect on fertility. In fact, a study of 210 women who were trying to conceive found that those who drank as little as a half a cup of caffeinated tea each day were twice as likely to become pregnant as women who did not drink tea.

It is claimed that the polyphenolic compounds in tea may promote fertility by inhibiting chromosomal abnormalities, thereby decreasing the number of nonviable embryos. Also hypoxanthine, another chemical in tea, might be the primary component of follicular fluid contributing to maturation and abilitly of eggs to fertilize.

On the other hand, tea drinking may simply be a marker for a healthier lifestyle. Women who drink tea typically eat less fat, exercise more, and smoke less than do coffee drinkers.

In short, there may still be a negative relationship between too much caffeine and pregnancy, so that women should still be cautious about how much caffeine they consume once they are pregnant.