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| Extra dose of caffeine might hinder pregnancy |
Even though previous research confirmed that drinking too much coffee could hinder a woman’s chances of getting pregnant, the reason for exactly why remained a mystery until now.
A study done in the United States on mice found that caffeine, the stimulant drug inside coffee, reduces the activity of muscle pacemaker cells inside of the Fallopian tubes. In order for a woman to have a successful pregnancy, the fertilized egg must reach the uterus. However, if these pacemaker cells aren’t working properly, it decreases her chances of successfully getting pregnant.
Because these cells are responsible for coordinating tube contractions, eggs are unable to move down the tubes into the uterus when they’re not working properly. In fact, these muscle cells play an even bigger role in moving the tiny egg along than the cilia along the tube wall.
“Our experiments were conducted in mice, but this finding goes a long way towards explaining why drinking caffeinated drinks can reduce a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant”, said Professor Sean Ward of the University of Nevada’s School of Medicine in Reno.
This new discovery not only explains why women with higher caffeine consumptions have a harder time conceiving, but it also gives fertility experts another clue in how to help couples who want to conceive naturally do so.
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