Of the millions of sperm men release when they ejaculate, only between 50 and 75 percent are healthy enough to fertilize an egg, according to the Mayo Clinic. Everything from the temperature of your bathwater to whether you're stressed at the office can affect how healthy your sperm is. In the case of caffeine, getting a little extra in your system can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the state of your sperm.
Motility
Motility describes how well your sperm move on their way to the egg. Healthy sperm can swim right up to the egg and penetrate it. In some cases, caffeine appears to improve motility of sperm. Brazilian researchers presenting at the 2003 American Society for Reproductive Medicine conference reported that sperm motility was higher in men who drank coffee than in those who bypassed caffeinated beverages.
Multiple Gestation
Drinking a cup of coffee a day can double the likelihood that your sperm will lead to multiple gestation when using assisted reproductive technology (ART), according to a 2002 study published in the journal Human Reproduction. The study authors recommended that men participating in ART, especially in gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) or in vitro fertilization (IVF), limit their caffeine consumption in the weeks leading up to their procedure to reduce the likelihood of multiple gestations.
Quality
To successfully fertilize an egg, at least one-third of your sperm should be healthy and normal, according to the Mayo Clinic. Drinking just three cups of coffee a day can cause genetic mutations in sperm that can make it harder for them to successfully penetrate an egg---and that can increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects if pregnancy is successful.
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