Men get off relatively easy when it comes to infertility. The woman is advised to do all sorts of things to improve her chances of conception, but the man is often let off the hook when it comes to making lifestyle changes. Often the female partner is told to watch what she eats and drinks while the male partner (even if male factor plays a role) is rarely similarly inundated with advice revolving around not eating certain foods, drinking caffeine or alcohol, smoking, exercising or not, etc. Most couples undergoing fertility treatments do know the “rule” that the male should not ejaculate 2-3 days prior to providing a sample, but many don’t know that the sperm that is being used was actually created three months prior to when the male makes the contribution.
Smoking, drinking alcohol, and poor nutrition can all contribute to lower sperm production, motility issues, and the general health of the sperm sample. In fact, heavy tobacco and alcohol use has been linked to chromosomal issues affecting fetuses in women who do conceive. So, it seems that men should be as concerned as women about their lifestyle and overall health prior to conception. Men are advised to take a multi-vitamin and to limit or eliminate alcohol and tobacco use to improve sperm health. It seems that it should be recommended to men as well as women, that both should try to follow a healthy, nutritious, vitamin enriched diet.
So it seems that both men and women should be concerned with what they eat and drink well in advance of the month prior to fertility treatments. It takes a man three months to create new sperm so “cleaning up his act” at the last minute will not be as beneficial as if the male partner ensures that he is living a healthier and cleaner lifestyle at least three months prior to when treatments will occur. There is nothing definitive stating that either partner shoud abstain from alcohol, fatty foods, caffeine, or nicotine, but we all know that it definitely won’t hurt to eat or drink more healthily. The important thing to remember is that for it to have any benefit for the male and his sperm sample these healthy lifestyle changes will need to take place at least three months prior to trying to conceive.
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