The
male’s role in conception is equally as important as the female’s and until it
was brought to my attention, I had somehow forgotten to address a few tidbits
on this as well! As you yourself have been working on optimizing your heath, so
should he! It is for this reason that I
have chosen to close out the Conception Series of my blog posts with one that
is dedicated to Male Fertility.
(Photo courtesy of microsoft office clip art).
It is
easy for us as women to become consumed with thoughts of motherhood, once we
truly get on board with the idea of having a baby. And now that you and your guy
have made the choice to take these steps towards parenthood it is easy for us
to overlook a very important fact….guys are simply, different in this regard.
Men
may, in their role as breadwinner; begin to become preoccupied with making more
money to support a growing family. He may throw himself deeper into work and
the added increase in stress may very well upset the calm and nurturing
environment you both need, to focus on conception in the first place. Communication is integral at this point.
Sharing your fears and worries, as well as all the wonderful things you are
both looking forward to is very beneficial. You should not however, expect your partner to behave as you are, regarding
the process itself. Chat it out with your girlfriends, and save the crazy
demands for that last few months in pregnancy, when you truly may be off your
rockers in reality anyway!
In
the meantime, there are some tidbits
that you can
focus on as a couple!
If he
hasn’t already, Your Man should consider upgrading his vitamin regime and making a few diet changes!
Ø
VITAMIN's
C, ZINC and E
is VERY important during this time. Invest in a good multi-vitamin pre-baby, if
your actual diet isn’t supplying an adequate amount. (Or if your guy simply isn’t
into the oranges, fish and veggies like he should be!)
Ø
COFFEE!
Now
here is an interesting factor! When coffee is consumed 20-30minutes before
exercise, studies have shown a marked increase in metabolism, but here’s the
double wammy….the caffeine boost also works to motivate sperm as well! As it
turns out, that quick cup of java pre-sex, will boost your chances at fertility
because…in layman terms, the sperm actually swim faster! (Increased motility!).
Recent studies also linked the wake-up stuff, to an increase in sperm count for
overweight men as well. So…there’s an argument on the “Pro-Side” for coffee lovers!
NUTRITION
IS KEY!
Ø
Now
may be the best time to invest in a lovely cookbook (if you aren’t already a
decent “chef”.) Preparing well balanced home cooked meals are the best thing to
do pre and post baby.
Ø
Your
man a meat and potatoes sort of dude? Now is the best time to introduce new,
healthier food options! Incorporate his
old favorites with more nutritious choices! Both of you may be more amenable to
change at this point as you become more focused on creating that brand new
Mini-You.
Ø
Foods
rich in zinc (found in seafood, eggs, meat and whole grains), selenium ( found
in meat, seafood, mushroom, cereals, and Brazil nuts) and vitamin E may help
improve male fertility.
Things to Re-Consider
Ø
ALCOHOL:
This one may be a hard habit to break for a few people, and if you haven’t
already, finding a new go-to drink of choice for those special relaxing moments
may be especially important if you are having more than a few drinks per week.
Alcohol has been shown to decrease fertility in men; though to the drink’s
credit…up to a few (3) glasses per week are still o.k.
Ø
THE
HOT TUB, Sauna….and well…anything that heats the "Package": Now here’s the deal on this
one. Unless you are a raving socialite who is pool side all week, and sipping
bubbly numbers by the hot tub or sauna every night, this one may definitely not
apply. But the thing to keep in mind here is….A man must strive to keep things
cool down below to increase his
chances at fertility. Anything that increases scrotal temperature should be
avoided.
-Laptops
on the lap? Skip that!
-Long
hot baths? I know its winter…..but yes, skip that.
-That
uber comfy heated car seat in the
winter….definitely skip that!
-Those
banana hammock, hot off the press man-thongs!...well…ok….need I say skip that? In
fact, the truth behind the undies for men here is….no matter what you pick,
boxers or briefs, they NEED to be breathable fabrics. Cotton is your friend.
Save the spandex numbers for Team USA’s Swimmers at this year’s summer
Olympics!
Ø
Smoking: um…yeah.
We all know the deal here.
Ø
SOY…Why?
I know I know…this is a surprising one.
These days most people I know are on a
health trip anyway, and that is absolutely great! We are eating more
vegetables, ordering the salads at the Burger joints and skipping
the mayo---sometimes. Kudos! But in the midst of this new health conscious
ride, is the increasing amount of Soy in our diets, which isn’t all together, a
bad thing….except for those that are trying to conceive.
Soy…in
excess… (Read: soy on the morning cereal, soy in the mid-day burger, soy in the
health shakes at lunch) is not beneficial now. Soy is a hidden ingredient in so many of our diet
staples today, and though it has many benefits (including protection from
prostate cancer!), Soy actually decreases sperm count in men. It is especially
more potent in men that may be overweight as it mimics an estrogenic response.
Having soy is wonderful but be mindful of your intake IF you are in the process
of trying to conceive. For a list of
foods that contain Soy, read the link in the Resources/ References provided
below.
Be
mindful of the fact that Conception is a two-person journey. The male must also bear in mind that any
pre-existing medical conditions that he may have could play a role in hindering
the ability of the couple to get pregnant as well. As listed below,
certain factors should be taken into consideration if they are present as they
may impede the process unnecessarily if gone long unattended.
-Testosterone Deficiency
-Stress
-Untreated
STD’s.
-Abstinence From
Sex (now, see
previous blog post). Yes…infrequent sex ruins sperm quality and should be taken
into consideration if a couple has been unsuccessfully trying to conceive. Intercourse that is no less frequent than every 2-3 days is best at this point.
-Drug Use.
(Narcotics, illegal drugs)
-Antibiotics.
- Erectile
Dysfunction
-Advanced Paternal
Age (though men
have no basic restrictions on age where conception is concerned, couples in
which the male is past the age of 45 may face a slightly lower chance of
conception, as there is indeed a gradual decline in sperm-health, motility and
quality past this age. Though it is not cause for a diagnosis of infertility on
his part, a consultation with a doctor if this IS the case, will help rule out
any pre-existing conditions that would further delay your goal, as well as
boost HIS chances at conceiving as well.
So
here it is--- my final post in the Conception series. Aptly written and posted
on a Wednesday. So with all due respect,
I bid you, my reader…a Happy Hump Day. And as always…
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_________________________________________________________________________________
RESOURCES and REFERENCES:
Male
Fertility Tips Explored:
Foods
That Contain Soy:
