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Why should a man prepare for conception
The birth of a child takes a lot of resources – both financial and physical. The stronger the health of both parents, the higher the likelihood of having a healthy child. Yes, and it is easier to cope with difficulties when the father and mother are full of strength and confidence.
According to statistics, the woman is primarily interested in the preparation for conception. But both parents are involved in the process on an equal footing, because the genetic material is transferred to the baby equally from the father and mother. The process of formation and maturation of spermatozoa (spermatogenesis) is complex and multicomponent, lasts about three months and is easily affected by negative influences. It is important to understand that a man may not be aware of the presence of any problems with his spermatogenesis and discover this only when the couple has problems conceiving. Even if conception does occur, there is a risk that the female egg will be fertilized by a “defective” spermatozoon, which, in turn, can lead to early miscarriages, various fetal developmental disorders, and even the development of oncological diseases in the child after birth. Therefore, it does not hurt to check the health of the future father in advance.
Step by step instructions for men
People often feel confused before such an important step. To make it easier to figure out what steps the future father needs to go through, we have prepared instructions.
– Many things affect the quality of spermatozoa – from lifestyle to the environment, so preparation for conception should begin with the normalization of the weight of both spouses, because adipose tissue is a hormonally active tissue. Excess weight in men can lead to problems with the hormonal background, so you need to lose weight even before conceiving a child, she said. obstetrician-gynecologist, reproductive specialist Aigul Nizayeva. – A man, like a woman, needs to give up bad habits. Smoking has a very bad effect on spermatozoa, and healthy ones are needed for conception. It is worth adjusting the diet: exclude foods with teratogenic and mutagenic properties. These are fast food, carbonated drinks, canned food, products with dyes, preservatives, flavors, “unhealthy” fats. Sweet also has a very negative effect on spermatozoa, they become lethargic and immobile. A man definitely needs to take vitamins – this is folic acid at a dose of 400 mg per day, vitamin D and iodine preparations. It is necessary to correct iron deficiency if it is detected in the analyzes. An overdose of vitamins is also dangerous, so when preparing for pregnancy, it is better to consult a doctor.
1. We take tests and consult a doctor
First you need to look “inside yourself”. Many processes in the body cannot be traced by external signs – laboratory tests will help with this.
For their appointment, you can contact a specialist – a urologist-andrologist, in family planning centers, private and public clinics. In the future, the doctor will decipher the results of the tests, analyze the lifestyle, complaints, and other factors. Will advise if treatment is needed.
Tests for infections. According to WHO, many men are carriers of sexually transmitted infections. Often the disease does not cause discomfort, but it worsens the quality of sperm. There is also a risk of infecting a woman when she is already pregnant, which is dangerous for both her and the baby.
Tests for hormones. Disturbances in the hormonal system affect the ability to conceive. You can check male sex hormones by doing a blood test.
Spermogram. The success of conception, the process of carrying a pregnancy and the health of the unborn child largely depend on the quality of sperm. Unlike female germ cells, which are laid from birth, new spermatozoa are constantly formed, but at the same time they are extremely sensitive to the effects of various adverse external and internal factors: ecology, stress, unhealthy diet, bad habits, illness, sedentary lifestyle, work harmful production, etc.
Under the influence of negative factors in the body of even a healthy man, oxidative stress can occur – a sharp increase in the concentration of free radicals.
Free radicals are extremely active molecules with powerful destructive power that can lead to damage to spermatozoa and their death.
Damaged and defective sperm cannot fertilize the egg, resulting in male infertility. If fertilization does occur, then the statistics are disappointing: about 70% of miscarriages and more than 50% of non-developing pregnancies, fetal malformations (both diagnosed immediately after birth and some time later) are associated with genetic defects in spermatozoa.
Therefore, it is so important to assess the quality of spermatozoa, and for this it is necessary to pass the seminal fluid for analysis – a spermogram.
For a successful conception, the ejaculate must contain the required number of spermatozoa, which, in turn, must have the correct appearance and structure, be active and move in a straight line – all this will be shown by the analysis of the spermogram. Based on the result, experts make a conclusion about the possibility of conception, give recommendations on changing diet, lifestyle, and prescribe antioxidant complexes. For serious disorders, various drugs, procedures, or even surgery may be required if the problem is in the physical condition of the testes or other organs.
2. We refuse bad habits
Since spermatozoa are extremely sensitive to external influences, it is possible to improve the quality of sperm simply by giving up bad habits.
Smoking and alcohol have been proven to reduce erections, suppress the production of male sex hormones, and reduce the rate and number of sperm. Nicotine also inhibits the body’s antioxidant defenses, and alcohol in the body is converted into acetaldehyde, a powerful toxin that causes mutations and damages sperm DNA. According to statistics, the number of sperm in a smoker is 15% less compared to a non-smoker. Quitting nicotine and drinking often improves sperm quality without additional treatment.
Lack of physical activity leads to stagnation of blood in the pelvic area. This is fraught with a decrease in potency or even prostatitis. Regular sports or at least a warm-up during long sitting are also useful for successful conception.
Overheating negatively affects the process of maturation of spermatozoa. Tight synthetic underwear, frequent hot baths and saunas, long work with a laptop on your lap increase the temperature in the testicles.
3. Switch to proper nutrition
The fast pace of life, fast food often lead to obesity. In addition to hormonal disorders, obesity leads to excessive oxidative stress not only in the reproductive organs, but throughout the body, and also contributes to overheating of the testicles and impaired sperm maturation.
Lack of nutrients in the diet and excessive thinness can also damage men’s health. Modern food is rather poor in antioxidants and trace elements, which are needed to maintain the balance of all body systems. It is important to eat varied, refuse junk food, a lot of sweets, carbonated drinks, eat enough vegetables and greens.
Residents of large cities are even more susceptible to the harmful effects of free radicals, which arise under the influence of negative environmental factors and lifestyle. Fatigue, sleep problems, irritability, weight fluctuations are more common. An exhausted body produces not the highest quality sperm, which reduces the likelihood of conception and increases the risk of fetal developmental abnormalities.
4. Include Antioxidants in Your Diet
Of course, it is impossible to avoid all the harmful factors that affect the quality of spermatozoa. Quick snacks, lack of vegetables, fruits and seafood in the diet often lead to beriberi. Poor ecology and drugs also provoke a stressful state of the body, oxidative stress and damage to maturing spermatozoa.
5. Unload psychologically
Preparing for the appearance of the baby is necessary not only physically, but also psychologically. Unpreparedness for this and part of the fears are based on ignorance, uncertainty. Searching for information and intelligent planning will calm and prepare you for an important step. Reduced stress levels and sufficient rest, healthy sleep also do not interfere.
Sometimes the fear of not conceiving becomes an obsessive thought, which further complicates the solution to the problem. Psychological blocks can cause failure, so you don’t need to get too hung up on the topic, the situation should be “let go”.
– Often, women do not know how to ask their husband to lead a proper lifestyle, start drinking vitamins, take a spermogram. The psychological approach is important here – you need to explain to the partner why all this is being done, that there is nothing shameful in this, and preparation affects the early onset of pregnancy and the health of the child, the doctor says.