Smoking Smoking reduces the chance of pregnancy by 50% and increases the rate of miscarriage, and it is important for women to quit smoking before assisted conception treatment, especially IVF. Similarly, secondhand smoke also halves the chance of pregnancy and can make the ovaries less responsive, with menopause occurring four years earlier in women who smoke than in non-smokers. In women who received donor eggs, smoking was also found to affect the endometrial tolerance of the embryo. Smoking reduces the fertility of the eggs, and the situation is even worse if the husband is also a smoker. Because smoking decreases sperm volume and reduces motility, statistics show that smoking couples are 5.3 times more likely to be infertile than non-smoking couples. Male smoking likewise decreases the chances of pregnancy in IVF, and the serious health problems and infertility caused by smoking are significant reasons for men to quit smoking. Also, men who smoke should take high levels of antioxidants to counteract the harmful effects of smoking on sperm and the cardiovascular system Coffee A recent study found that women who consumed 300 mg or more of caffeine a day took longer to conceive than women who consumed little or no caffeine. During an IVF cycle, women with infertility should not consume more than one cup of decaffeinated coffee or tea (less than or equal to 5 mg). Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, soft drinks (including some carbonated water, non-alcoholic beverages) and other beverages that can give you a “pick-me-up. Also, some medications for headaches, colds, and allergies contain caffeine. The amount of caffeine in different coffees and teas varies, depending on how they are made and how strong or strong the flavor is. Women who are preparing to become pregnant or are in the process of becoming pregnant should try to give up coffee. Male sperm are not as sensitive to caffeine, but a large survey also found that regular coffee consumption increased the percentage of male sperm DNA fragmentation, which can induce infertility and miscarriage. Alcohol Alcohol consumption should be prohibited for both men and women during an IVF cycle. Studies have found that alcohol consumption causes a decrease in pregnancy rates and an increase in miscarriage rates. Drinking more than 5-6 drinks per week for women from the time both partners intend to become pregnant delays pregnancy, and the more bad habits there are, the more pronounced the decrease in pregnancy chances.