Male Health for Conception
The following are some tips for the man's health in a couple trying to conceive.Exercise
It is important to get in shape if you want to start a family but first, take a look at what types of exercise you're doing. If you're involved in a sport that puts your genitals at risk such as soccer, rugby, or football make sure you wear proper protective gear. If you do get injured, seek medical attention immediately, as genital injuries can be very serious."Being well is probably the most important thing," says the Diamond Institute's Yemini. "Anything that will devastate your body or normal function will also have an effect on reproduction." In other words, your reproductive system is only as healthy as the rest of your body.
Common Sense
Does this mean you have to live like a saint? No - but it does mean "all the usual suspects need to go; recreational drugs like cocaine and marijuana and anabolic steroids can reduce sperm counts", reports Ann Douglas, author of The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby. While men don't need to abstain from alcohol completely, "heavy drinking, in the long run, can affect hormone levels and liver function," and affect conception, says Yemini.
Get rid of the cigarettes, too. Smoking not only affects sperm production, but can also have a negative impact on the developing fetus and the baby after it's born. Quitting "may also make it easier for your partner to quit smoking, something that's very important," says Douglas.
If you are significantly overweight, try and lose some weight. According to Douglas, if you are overweight your body may produce an abundance of the female sex hormone estrogen, and this could lead to fertility problems. She also suggests avoiding exposure to substances that could be harmful to sperm: "toxic chemicals and radiation can potentially damage sperm production, leaving a man incapable of fertilizing an egg, or permanently damaging his genetic material."
Hidden Factors
Some medications can also affect reproductive ability. According to Douglas, certain antibiotics, cimetidine (an antacid), and chemotherapeutic agents can reduce sperm counts, and some blood-pressure drugs can cause ejaculatory dysfunction. A call to your doctor or pharmacist can determine if any medications you're taking may have unwanted side effects. Some men who know they are about to undergo chemotherapy elect to have their sperm frozen before the treatment regimen begins.Man's Age
A woman's age affects a couple's ability to conceive and the health of the baby to a greater extent than the male's. Yemini notes that it's much easier, physically speaking, for a male to be a father when he's 60 than for a woman to become a mother later in life.However, the man's age is still a factor. "The older the couple, the more chance of malformation," reports Yemini. He says that in the situations where a malformation is discovered via amniocentesis (a procedure where a portion of the amniotic fluid is analyzed for potential problems), approximately 20% of the time the problem can be attributed to the sperm.
Conclusion
When it comes to health, use common sense. If it's bad for you, it's most likely bad for your baby-to-be. Diet can also be very important especially in the prevention of health problems in later years e.g. Prostate health
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