QUIT SMOKING

• The toxins in cigarettes take their toll not only on the lungs but also on the health of your entire body. This includes your reproductive system.
• A study found that smoking was associated with decreased sperm count, decreased sperm motility (that’s how sperm swim), and poor sperm morphology (how sperm are shaped.)
• Most notably, the negative effect smoking had on sperm health was stronger in infertile men and in moderate to heavy smokers, compared to light smokers.
• Male smoking is associated with decreased IVF success rates and possibly increased miscarriage rates. Secondhand smoke can harm the female partner's fertility as well. When he smokes, it not only decreases his sperm health. It also decreases her fertility.

 STOP DRINKING ALCOHOL

• In men, heavy drinking affects fertility by:
• lowering testosterone levels, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone, and raising estrogen levels, which reduce sperm production
• shrinking the testes, which can cause impotence or infertility
• changing gonadotropin Trusted Source release which impacts sperm production
• causing early ejaculation or decreased ejaculation
• changing the shape, size, and movement of healthy sperm

 REACH AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY WEIGHT

• A new study at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), finds that overweight and obese men are more likely than their normal-weight peers to produce lower numbers of sperm, or even no sperm at all. 
• This could increase the likelihood that they would have difficulty conceiving. While the results don’t prove that excess weight leads to fertility troubles, having a lower sperm count can make it more difficult for men to conceive.

AVOID EXPOSURE TO HIGH TEMOERATURE

• The testicles reside in the scrotum and are maintained about two degrees cooler than core body temperature.  When it’s hot, the scrotum relaxes and the testicles settle lower, and, as all men know, when it’s cold, they rise up and are held close to the body. 
•  If testicular temperature is maintained above a desirable level, for a prolonged period, it can impair sperm production  – not just the quantity, but also the quality.  Prolonged, repeated visits, to the hot tub, for example may be relaxing, but may work against your reproductive health.
• Fever can be considered another source of heat. Prolonged fever or illness is associated with an impairment in male fertility.   Even after recovery, it may take a few months for sperm quality to return to normal.  Systemic illness such as poorly controlled diabetes can also contribute to fertility issues. 
• Heat radiation to the testes from outside sources is another potential contributor to abnormalities in sperm production.   Chefs that stand in front of a hot oven all day may be at risk.  New sources of heat radiation have arrived with new technologies.
•  Recently, laptops were in the news as they produce significant heat radiation.  Something more than just pants should be between your laptop and your testicles.   
• Cell phones also emit microwaves when in use.  Do you keep your phone in your pocket on extended phone calls, while you talk through Bluetooth?     It’s probably not a good idea, at least not for extended calls.

AGE

• The age of the male partner has significant impact on reproduction. Older men tend to have older female partners, and increasing male age is associated with increased time to conception. This reflects the age-related increase in acquired medical conditions, decreases in semen quality, and increasing rates of DNA fragmentation seen in sperm.
• Declining testosterone may cause decline in libido, erectile dysfunction, and difficulty achieving ejaculation. The level of testosterone does appear to influence sexual function.
• Aging has a significant impact on male sexual function, sperm parameters, and fertility, which all contribute to decreased fecundability, increased time to conception, and increased miscarriage rates. There are clearly many unknowns that remain with regard to male aging and fertility. 

SAY NO TO STRESS

• The mechanism by which stress affects the quality of semen is not fully understood yet. According to researchers, stress may cause the release of steroid hormones such as glucocorticoids, which can decrease testosterone levels as well as sperm production. 
• Oxidative stress is another possibility and has been found to adversely impact semen and sperm quality and fertility.
• Besides the link between the quality of semen/sperm and stress, one study focused on the subjective as well as objective assessment of stress and confirmed the close association between stress and sperm concentration, appearance and motility in semen.

AVOID VIOLENCE

• Infertile women were more exposed to an increased risk of domestic violence compared to fertile woman in a study. Domestic violence is a risk factor for stress, anxiety and fear among women and this factor may have an adverse effect on fertility. Thus, it is necessary to provide a domestic violence program within infertility care. 
• Domestic violence victims may need primary care and special attention during her visits, and infertile women need to be educated by health care providers on how to prevent domestic violence. Increasing couples’ knowledge about infertility and empowering women about their rights may decrease domestic violence.

PREVENT TREAT STD

• Get screened and treated for any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Continue to protect yourself and your partner from STDs during pregnancy. Pregnancy does not provide a woman or the baby she is carrying any protection against STDs. 
• The consequences of an STD can be significantly more serious, even life threatening, for a woman and her unborn baby if the woman becomes infected with an STD while pregnant. In addition, some STDs can cause infertility (not being able to get pregnant) in a woman.

TAKE A DAILY MULTIVITAMIN

•   Many multivitamin formulations for men might include antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, and the minerals selenium and zinc. Some research has found that antioxidants may cause a slight increase in sperm count and movement, according to The American Society for Reproductive Medicine. 
•  It makes sense that antioxidants may improve sperm quality because they can protect against free radicals, which can cause damage to DNA within sperm cells.

GET HEALTH CONDITION UNDER CONTROL

Effectively managing chronic medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, may improve a man's chances of getting his partner pregnant, suggests The American Society for Reproductive Medicine. 

Other medical conditions, such as cystic fibrosis or varicoceles (enlarged veins in the scrotum that cause overheating), may also affect male fertility, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

 In addition, some medications used to treat high blood pressure (beta blockers), depression and anxiety (SSRIs), pain (long-term opiates), and an enlarged prostate (finasteride), could have a negative influence on fertility. 

Supplemental testosterone can also decrease sperm production.  Some chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatments for cancer can cause permanent infertility, according to the Mayo Clinic.  A man should speak to his doctor about medication he is taking and whether it might interfere with his ability to father a child.

EXERCISE EVERYDAY

As per the study, Men who got the most total exercise and logged the most time doing intense workouts had better sperm motility than men who got the least amounts of exercise.

“If your job is mostly sedentary, take every opportunity to get out of the chair or vehicle; stand, walk or climb stairs whenever you can”. “Park the car some distance away or get down one bus stop earlier, and exercise as much as possible when not at work.”

CONSUME NUTRITIOUS FOOD

Nutrition can both negatively and positively affect the quality of semen. The diet should include vegetables and fruit, fish and seafood, nuts, seeds, whole-grain and fibre-rich products, poultry, and low-fat dairy products. On the other hand, low consumption of fruit and vegetables and products with an antioxidant potential, a high calorific intake, a diet rich in saturated fatty acids and trans fats, low fish consumption, as well as a high proportion of both red and processed meat have a negative impact on the quality of semen, which may contribute to reduced male fertility.

Therefore, a modification of lifestyle, particularly with regard to the diet, seems to be indispensable with regard to male infertility associated with semen quality.

15 Best steps for pre pregnancy preparation

Are you planning to concive?Check out these steps to achieve your healthiest pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION
Pregnancy requires lots of adjustments in your personal and professional life. So it is better to plan ahead and be prepared. The goal of pre pregnancy care is to reduce the risk of adverse health effects for the mother, fetus, and neonate by working on yourself to optimize health, address modifiable risk factors, and get educated about healthy pregnancy. 

1)BEST TIME FOR PRE PREGNANCY COUNCELLING

If you are a non pregnant women or men with reproductive potential here is an opportunity to get counselling about wellness and healthy habits, which may improve reproductive and obstetric outcomes you should choose to reproduce. 

2)FAMILY PLANNING AND PREGNANCY SPACING

• Family planning provides many benefits  to you, your children your husband  and family .Enables you to regain your health after delivery. 
• Gives enough time and opportunity to love and provide attention to your husband and children. Gives you time for your health and personal advancement.
• It is advised to avoid inter pregnancy intervals shorter than 6 months and maintain a minimum of not less than 18 months. 
• Unintended pregnancy increases the risk of pregnancy complications.

 3)REVIEW OF MEDICAL,SURGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC HISTORIES

• Many chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, psychiatric illness, and thyroid disease have implications for pregnancy outcomes and should be optimally managed before pregnancy.
• Screening may be appropriate for patients with risk factors (eg, age greater than 30 years, morbid obesity, history of pregnancy loss, preterm delivery, or infertility).
• Major medical conditions that affect pregnancy are gestational diabetes, chronic hypertension, untreated hypothyroidism, bariatric surgery, mood disorders, Human immunodeficiency virus(HIV), Thrombophilia Etc .
• So it is always advisable to undergo a pre pregnancy counselling and screening for optimum health.

4)REVIEW OF CURRENT MEDICATION 

• All prescription and nonprescription medications are  reviewed during pre pregnancy counseling. This review also should include nutritional supplements and herbal products that you may not consider to be medication use but could affect reproduction and pregnancy. 
• The pregnancy safety of each medication and supplement will be discussed. Medications with potential teratogenicity are reviewed and the specific risks of each individual medication discussed in detail.

5)REVIEW OF FAMILY AND GENETIC HISTORY

• A genetic and family history of you and your partner should be obtained . This may include family history of genetic disorders, birth defects, mental disorders, and breast, ovarian, uterine, and colon cancer.
•  When any genetic disease carrier status is diagnosed in one or both partners, full medical records review and genetic counseling are recommended to educate you on the effects of the disease and the potential options for pre pregnancy and early pregnancy screening of offspring. 

6)IMMUNISATIONS

• The best protection against rubella is the MMR (measles-mump-rubella)vaccine. If you aren't up to date with the MMR vaccine ,you will need it before you get pregnant. Make sure you have pregnancy blood test to see if you are immune to the disease. Most women were vaccinated with the MMR vaccine in your childhood but confirm with your doctor or other healthcare professional. 
• Avoid becoming pregnant until one month after receiving the MMR vaccine and your immunity is confirmed by blood test.

7)INFECTIOUS DISEASE SCREENING

• Assessment of the need for STI screening are performed at the time of pre pregnancy counseling. Gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) should be screened  based on age and risk factors. Counseling to reduce STI risk is provided.
• Those at high risk of tuberculosis should be screened and treated appropriately before pregnancy.
• Patients with potential exposure to certain infectious diseases, such as the Zika virus, are counseled regarding travel restrictions and appropriate waiting time before attempting pregnancy.

8)INDIVISUAL WITH HIV

• All reproductive-aged patients living with HIV should receive pre pregnancy counseling if considering pregnancy . Pre pregnancy counseling  includes a detailed discussion of interventions to reduce the risk of perinatal transmission, ways to optimize long-term health, and the possible effects of antiretroviral medications on the fetus. 
• Any HIV-infected patients who are contemplating pregnancy are counseled that they should be receiving treatment with antiretroviral therapy, with the goal of a plasma viral load suppressed to an undetectable level before achieving pregnancy. 
• Artificial insemination is the safest way for an HIV-infected couple to become pregnant while minimising the risk of HIV transmission to an HIV-negative partner.

9)AVOID SUBSTANCE USE 

• You are routinely asked about the use of alcohol, nicotine products, and drugs, including prescription opioids and other medications used for nonmedical reasons.
• It is a best chance to quit all the habits like smoking, alcohol consumption, marijuana. As it is very harmful for you and your baby.

10)SAY NO TO VIOLENCE, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE,AND REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL COERCION

•  Screening for intimate partner violence should occur during pre pregnancy counseling. 
• Self-administered questionnaires are as effective as a physician interview in screening for intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion. 
• Sexual coercion includes a range of behavior that a partner may use related to sexual decision making to pressure or coerce a person to have sex without using physical force.

11) EAT A BALANCE DIET

• Fruits, vegetables, and daily multivitamins are good sources of antioxidants and vitamins that may assist in reproductive health for males and females. Female pre pregnancy folic acid supplementation (400 mg/DAY)should be encouraged to reduce the risk of NTDs(neural tube defects).
• Prenatal vitamins use also is associated with a lower risk of miscarriage. Moderate caffeine consumption (less than 200 mg per day) does not appear to be a major contributing factor in miscarriage or preterm birth .
•  confirm whether you are meeting recommended daily allowances for calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin B, vitamin D, and other nutrients.
• People who are at risk of eating disorders should be screened and counseled . Patients with mal absorptive gastrointestinal disease, bariatric surgery, or those on a vegan diet may require vitamin and mineral supplementation.

12)MAINTAIN YOUR HEALTHY WEIGHT

•  Try to attain a BMI in the normal range before attempting pregnancy because abnormal high or low BMI is associated with infertility and maternal and fetal pregnancy complications . 
• The reproductive risks of obesity include, but are not limited to infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, cesarean delivery, and thromboembolic events . Obesity also increases the risk of nonreproductive diseases, including stroke, heart disease, certain types of cancer, arthritis, high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes . 
• Pregnant women with low BMI are at risk of having small-for-gestational-age fetuses and low-birth-weight infants . Ideally, weight should be optimized before a woman attempts to becoming pregnant , although the health benefits of postponing pregnancy need to be balanced against reduced fecundity with female aging .

13)START YOUR EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• Regular physical exercise improves cardiovascular health, reduces obesity and associated medical comorbidities, and improves longevity. You should exercise moderately at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week . 
• These levels of exercise are recommended pre pregnancy, during pregnancy, and in postpartum women. Dietary modifications in concert with exercise produce greater weight loss than exercise alone.

14)BE AWAY FROM TERATOGENS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE

•  Avoid exposure to toxic agents and, when necessary,  take occupational medicine programs. Exposures can occur both at home (eg, plastics with bisphenol-A, pesticides, lead paint, asbestos) and at work.
•  Employment sectors at particular risk of potentially hazardous exposures during pregnancy include agriculture (pesticides), manufacturing (organic solvents and heavy metals), dry cleaning (solvents), and health care (biologics and radiation).

15)MARK YOUR PREGNANCY DATE

•  Seek medical care before attempting to become pregnant or as soon as you believe you are pregnant to aid in correct dating and to be monitored for any medical conditions in which treatment should be modified during pregnancy.
• Correct first-trimester pregnancy dating provides value in managing potential subsequent pregnancy complications and indications for delivery.

 TAKE AWAY

Pre pregnancy counselling is most important factor which helps prevent complications and inform women about important steps they can take to protect themselves and their infant and ensure a healthy pregnancy.

   Follow good lifestyle which majorly includes these 15 steps to achieve your pregnancy and give birth to a healthiest baby. 

ALL THE BEST to invite a new member in your family.

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