Sugary Drinks Linked To Lower Fertility In Couples

Consuming sugar-sweetened beverages daily may reduce the chances of getting pregnant, according to a new study led by researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health.

The study, published in Epidemiology, found that women and men who drank one or more sugary beverages per day had a lower likelihood of conception. The drop in fertility was observed even after accounting for other factors such as weight, caffeine and alcohol intake, smoking, and overall diet quality.

“We found consistent links between sugary drink consumption and reduced fertility in both men and women,” said lead author Elizabeth Hatch, professor of epidemiology at BU. “Couples trying to conceive may want to consider cutting back on these drinks—not only because of fertility, but also due to their known effects on overall health.”

The findings come as added sugar intake in the U.S. has soared over the last 50 years. A large part of this increase is from sugar-sweetened drinks like sodas and energy drinks, which now make up about one-third of all added sugar in the American diet. These drinks have already been associated with health problems like weight gain, type 2 diabetes, early puberty, and reduced semen quality. However, few studies have directly examined their impact on fertility—until now.

The research team used data from the Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a long-term, web-based study tracking North American couples trying to conceive. The study included 3,828 women between the ages of 21 and 45, along with 1,045 of their male partners. Participants reported on their medical history, lifestyle, and diet, including how often they consumed sugary drinks. Women were then followed every two months for up to a year or until they became pregnant.

Results showed that daily consumption of sugary drinks was associated with roughly 20% lower fecundability—the monthly chance of getting pregnant. Women who drank at least one soda per day had a 25% lower chance, while men had a 33% lower chance. Energy drink consumption was linked to even steeper fertility declines, though fewer people in the study reported drinking them. In contrast, little or no association was found between fertility and consumption of fruit juice or diet soda.

With about 15% of couples in North America facing infertility, the researchers say identifying lifestyle changes—like reducing sugary drink intake—could help many conceive more quickly. It could also help reduce the stress and high costs of fertility treatments, which add up to over $5 billion annually in the U.S.

“These findings have significant public health relevance, especially given how common sugary drink consumption is among people of reproductive age,” the authors concluded.

The study was a collaborative effort, with senior author Lauren Wise and several other researchers from BU, alongside colleagues from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark.