Mr. Wang married his wife who was 5 years younger when he was 32 years old. The couple has been married for four years. They lived apart for the first three years to focus on their careers. Only this year did they live together and start preparing for pregnancy. While the couple was preparing for pregnancy, Mr. Wang discovered that he had a problem with ejaculation too quickly, which troubled him very much. At his wife\’s persuasion, he went to the hospital for treatment. After asking about the medical history and completing relevant examinations, the doctor found that Mr. Wang not only suffered from premature ejaculation, but also had a decline in semen quality, including decreased sperm motility and incomplete liquefaction of the semen. After half a year of regular treatment, Mr. Wang\’s ejaculation time and semen quality improved, and his wife became pregnant successfully.
From the experience of Mr. Wang and his wife, we can see that long-term sexlessness and increasing age will have a certain impact on the couple\’s preparation for pregnancy. When couples prepare for pregnancy scientifically, what issues should men pay attention to?
How far in advance to prepare
From spermatogonia to sperm, then moving from the seminiferous tubules to the epididymis, plus the storage and maturation time in the epididymis, the entire sperm production process takes 65 to 75 days. Therefore, when couples are preparing for pregnancy, it is best for men to start preparations 3 months in advance, so as to provide enough time for the production of high-quality sperm.
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What tests should be done
When couples are preparing for pregnancy, men need to do the following examinations.
Physical examination of the whole body and reproductive system Conduct an assessment of the whole body and examine the penis, scrotum, testicles, epididymis, vas deferens, spermatic cord, etc. If necessary, a digital anal examination is also required to understand the condition of the prostate. It can initially determine whether there are problems with the reproductive system, and can also detect some diseases that affect male fertility, so as to achieve early intervention.
Semen, biochemical and imaging examinations Semen examination includes indicators such as sperm count, motility, sperm abnormality rate, and whether there is bacterial infection in the semen. If the man\’s semen is abnormal, further blood tests are needed to rule out other systemic diseases that may have an impact on fertility. Ultrasound examination is very valuable for reproductive system diseases, especially cryptorchidism, varicocele, tumors, hydrocele, etc., to understand whether there are any abnormalities in the reproductive system.
Genitourinary Microbiology Examination Male genitourinary system infection is one of the common causes of male infertility. Men with a history of unclean sexual contact and discomfort during urination can undergo urine routine, mycoplasma, chlamydia, gonococcus and other tests to find out whether there is inflammation of the reproductive tract.
Assessing family history Those with a significant genetic history need to undergo genetic testing to prevent the disease-causing genes from being passed on to the next generation.
What to pay attention to daily
Although medicine is increasingly developed, there are still 60% of infertility patients whose cause cannot be found. Therefore, daily maintenance is more important. When couples are preparing for pregnancy, men should pay attention to the following things to improve efficiency.
Stay away from high temperature environments When couples are preparing for pregnancy, men need to avoid being in overheated environments for long periods of time. Under normal circumstances, the temperature of the testicles in the scrotum is 1 to 2°C lower than that of the abdominal cavity, which is a more suitable temperature for sperm production in the testicles. In daily life, due to work reasons and bad living habits, such as sitting for long periods of time, crossing one\’s legs, soaking in hot springs, saunas, wearing tight pants, riding bicycles for long periods of time and other \”warming\” behaviors, the living environment of sperm is too warm. It has been damaged, disrupting sperm production, resulting in a decrease in sperm quantity and quality, which is not conducive to female pregnancy.
Active treatment of diseases The reproductive health of both spouses is the basic prerequisite for pregnancy preparation. If you suffer from prostatitis, seminal vesiculitis, urethritis, orchitis, epididymitis and other diseases, it may affect the quality of semen and damage male fertility. Therefore, men with such problems should see a doctor as soon as possible and follow the doctor\’s advice for treatment.
Maintain a good living environment During couples preparing for pregnancy, men should not smoke or drink alcohol, and should avoid exposure to second-hand smoke, newly decorated closed environments, toxic and harmful chemicals, radiation, etc. Harmful substances such as nicotine, tar, formaldehyde, and rays in cigarettes not only affect the number of sperm, but also reduce sperm motility and even cause sperm deformities. Secondhand smoke can affect your partner\’s fertility if you smoke around them. In addition, whether it is beer, liquor or other alcoholic drinks, excessive drinking will reduce androgen levels, cause sexual dysfunction, and reduce the total number of sperm. Therefore, it is best for men to stay away from alcohol during pregnancy preparations.
Develop good living habits Adhere to moderate exercise, regular work and rest, do not stay up late, maintain a healthy weight, etc. Brisk walking, hiking, cycling, dancing, playing badminton, basketball, etc. are all good exercises. Studies have confirmed that 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise and endurance exercise of a certain intensity every day can increase blood circulation and speed up metabolism. It can also promote a significant increase in male hormones in the blood and the production of sperm. Staying up late often puts people in a state of fatigue for a long time, and the harm continues to accumulate. Gradually, it will change from occasional physiological dysfunction to regular damage to the male reproductive system.Causes pathological damage, reduces sperm quality, and can also cause impotence, premature ejaculation, etc. Therefore, regular work and rest is very important. Obese men are prone to decline in semen quality, so it is very necessary to follow the doctor\’s advice to lose weight scientifically.
Learn to regulate mood Research has found that stress in life and work directly affects semen quality, possibly because it activates the release of stress hormones (cortisol) and reduces androgen levels, reducing sperm production. Learn to regulate your mood, keep your spirit happy, and release stress.
Ensure nutritional balance Make some adjustments to your diet and eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, high-quality protein, etc. Try to have a diverse and balanced diet, control your intake of coffee and strong tea, and eat less high-energy and fried foods. Reasonable and balanced dietary nutrition is of great help in improving male sperm quality. When couples are preparing for pregnancy, men can also appropriately consume foods rich in zinc, selenium, folic acid and other trace elements, such as nuts. On the basis of a reasonable diet, folic acid supplementation can improve sperm count and sperm motility.
Many couples use ovulation test strips to schedule intercourse during pregnancy preparations, which virtually increases the psychological burden on both parties and is not a very scientific method. Sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for about 72 hours. After the egg is released, the optimal fertilization ability is 12 hours and can last for about 24 hours. For women with regular menstruation and normal ovulation, if they have sex every 2 to 3 days, they will basically not miss their ovulation period. Therefore, during the non-ovulation period, it is recommended to have sex 1 to 2 times a week. During the ovulation period, the frequency can be increased depending on the situation.
