Pregnancy planning is a serious and deliberate decision of a loving couple, and the direct participation of a man in it is no less important, since he must not only morally support the expectant mother, but also prepare for conception accordingly: pass all the necessary tests and abandon bad habits. Taking care of your health in advance is a valuable contribution to the future of your unborn baby. When planning a pregnancy, you should put your body in order at least 3 months before conception, saturate it with all the necessary vitamins and minerals, switch to a healthy lifestyle, eliminating all bad habits.
Where to begin?
How to prepare for pregnancy? In this case, a man is assigned not the last role. It has long been known that the health of an unborn child depends not only on the state of the mother, but also on the father, so the first thing you will have to completely give up cigarettes and alcohol. Nicotine and alcohol negatively affect the quality of seminal fluid, reducing its fertility. In the period before conception, it is necessary to strengthen immunity, protect yourself from colds, and if possible, eliminate the use of antibiotics and potent drugs.
The diet - both women and men - should contain fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as the obligatory intake of multivitamins, folic acid, vitamins E and C. Vitamin B9 (folic acid) and vitamin E (tocopherol) reduce the risk of pathological sperm formation. Vitamin C, known for its antioxidant properties, accelerates the process of seed renewal, contributes to the development of healthy and motile spermatozoa.
The doctor's consultation
Judging by statistics, about a quarter of couples in Russia have problems conceiving a child. With all this, in half of cases there is a decreased female fertility, in the other half - male. Only 10% of the examinations revealed the immune incompatibility of partners. Based on this, it is clear that for all their reluctance, men still need to undergo a training program, which involves a series of examinations. Vitamins play an important role in planning pregnancy. For men along with women, the intake of the mentioned nutrients will serve as a good strengthening of the body and the first step closer to the cherished goal - the birth of a healthy child. It is recommended to plan a pregnancy not after a series of unsuccessful attempts, but in advance. Such tactics will help prevent failure with conception and eliminate the negative emotions associated with this, which, incidentally, are not good for future parents.
Analyzes
Pay attention to the fact that both partners must be tested before pregnancy. It is important for men to undergo a series of examinations to identify pathologies with an andrologist or urologist. First of all, the doctor will prescribe a spermogram, judging by the results of which he will be able to assess the motility and ability of sperm to fertilize the female egg. In addition, tests should be taken for the presence of diseases of an infectious and inflammatory nature, as well as to determine the blood group of the Rh factor. A urinalysis will help identify thyroid problems and rule out hormonal problems in the future.
Based on the results, the doctor will be able to draw up a scheme of suitable therapy or prescribe an additional examination with other specialists.
Timely delivery of tests is an integral part of planning the birth of a healthy baby. If you do not take into account any, even the most insignificant infection, it can cause inflammatory processes and the complex course of pregnancy, its fading or miscarriage.
Diet
The next question that I would like to consider in the framework of this article is the nutrition of men. When planning a pregnancy, for which, as is already known, both spouses are preparing, it is necessary to make adjustments to the menu. So, a man needs to include in his diet pork, liver, beef, fish (salmon is an excellent option) and various types of cheese. It is not superfluous to add mushrooms, nuts, bran and legumes. To normalize the male reproductive system, it is important to consider the intake of three main substances, such as zinc, L-carnitine and vitamin E.
Zinc promotes the production of testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which controls the production of seed.
L-carnitine has long been used for the prevention and treatment of male infertility; it promotes sperm maturation and prevents pathological forms of their development.
Vitamin E reduces the percentage of immature sperm production, increases the chances of conception.
Pregnancy Planning: What Vitamins to Drink?
Undoubtedly, many important micro- and macrocells can be obtained from food, however, it should be noted that any, even the most calculated diet will not be able to fully satisfy the needs of the male body with all the necessary substances. Well, for example. The source of L-carnitine is meat, but to get the required dose of this element, about 1 kg of beef would have to be eaten daily. Therefore, for easy use and assimilation of nutrients, you should take specially designed vitamin complexes designed to prepare the body when planning pregnancy.
One of the most necessary elements for the male body, and also the female one, is folic acid, which is contained in large quantities in the drug "Folacin". When planning a pregnancy for a man, this remedy is most often prescribed. The recommended daily dose (for the stronger sex) is 0.4 mg.
However, the drug "Folacin" is not at all preventive, but a therapeutic agent, and it should be taken only on the recommendation of a doctor. One tablet contains 5000 mcg (5 mg) of vitamin B9.
Joint examination
To exclude the possible transmission of diseases to the unborn child, both partners should be examined for the presence of chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, candidiasis, ureaplasmosis and gonorrhea. These tests are carried out without fail, since sexually transmitted diseases can occur in a latent form, without expressing their presence. Detection of viruses is carried out in the laboratory, by examining a blood or gynecological smear. If a disease is detected, treatment is carried out at both partners simultaneously.
If the future parents are older than 35 years old, or there are genetic defects in the family, the gynecologist or therapist can send the couple for a consultation with the geneticist, who, in turn, will give useful recommendations or schedule an additional examination.
Are vitamins always needed when planning a pregnancy?
For men, to make an effort on themselves and start drinking all sorts of “pills” - this can be said to be a heroic act. And they go on this extremely rarely, and only if they are sure of the need for such actions. Of course, the main goal of the whole event is the birth of a healthy child, but do not forget about preserving your vitality and health, because they will be useful in the future for the birth of a second, or even a third baby. But they still need to be raised! Therefore, vitamins will clearly not be superfluous. First of all, people who follow a vegetarian diet should start taking multivitamin complexes, not to mention smoking and drinking alcohol.
So, fix the material. Why do we need vitamins when planning pregnancy? For men, they are prescribed to ensure effective sperm maturation, because even with a great desire to extract the necessary amount of useful elements from food is simply impossible. Since it will have to be eaten in huge quantities. Vitamins are necessary for women to replenish their own body with all the necessary substances, as well as for the normal development of the fetus in the future.
Useful Tips
However, do not rely on vitamins alone. Pregnancy planning for men and women is not limited to taking all kinds of drugs. It is very important to lead a healthy lifestyle. If possible, follow the tips below - it is likely that they will help conception and the birth of a healthy descendant. So, during preparation for conception, you should:
- A lot of movement, when seated work more often warm up, do jogging in the morning (to disperse the blood through the veins and avoid its stagnation in the pelvic area).
- Wear loose clothing made from natural, breathable fabrics.
- Do not exhaust yourself with physical activity.
- Spend less time at the computer.
- Exclude the storage of mobile phones in the pockets of pants.
- Drink vitamins E, C, B9.
- Forget about fast food.
- To strengthen their immunity, performing moderate physical activity, as well as taking sun baths.
- Timely treat chronic diseases.
The logical conclusion of preparation for pregnancy
The final stage is, of course, the conception itself. Perhaps not everything will work out on the first try ... But do not rush to be upset. If pregnancy does not occur within a year, then there is a reason to contact a specialist who will determine the cause of the reproductive dysfunction. All stages complement each other, they are very important for a successful outcome - do not neglect them. After all, the doctor will not be able to prescribe, for example, vitamins when planning pregnancy for men, relying only on the patient’s verbal testimony. Without detailed analyzes, the meaning of taking the drugs can be reduced to zero. And even if the pregnancy preparation program requires a lot of time (six months or a year), it is better to have patience and do everything that is required in the name of happiness and health of the future baby.