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The Fertility Health of Dads is Important. Get Checked.

No matter where you are on your path to fatherhood, we recommend getting your fertility health checked by a medical professional. This checklist will help you get ready for your visit.

You’re ready to be a dad, and you’re going to be much more than just the guy that drives his wife to the hospital. That’s great news for your future family, because research confirms that a father’s dedicated involvement during preconception and pregnancy paves the way for the happiest and healthiest life possible for his partner and child.

“The amount and quality of time as well as level of involvement during pregnancy predicts how well equipped and involved the father will be after birth,” writes M. Jermane Bond, PhD, in his overview of the link between paternal involvement in preconception and pregnancy, and family health outcomes

Unfortunately, men are often excluded from preconception healthcare due to a bias toward women’s fertility concerns, time constraints, perceived high cost, and a lack of clarity about the role of a dad-to-be. Men are also often overlooked by healthcare providers when couples seek fertility care, despite the stats showing that up to half of all infertility cases involve male factors

It doesn’t have to be this way. Men’s healthcare, Bond writes, can routinely “include the basic components of preconception health, [such as] risk assessment, health promotion, clinical and psychosocial interventions.” Healthcare during preconception has a measurably positive effect on a man’s relationship with his partner, his approach to fathering, his self-esteem and continued good health

Men can, and should, seek fertility healthcare during the preconception period, the two to three months after they’ve decided to conceive a child before officially beginning to try. That’s about the length of time it takes for sperm to reach maturity. Sperm maturation is a crucial period during which epigenetic information about a father’s current well-being gets transmitted to his offspring, influencing how his child develops. This two to three month window is the perfect time for future fathers to invest in self-care to communicate the strongest legacy possible.

Proactive fertility care can also help men spot and address fertility issues before they cause more trouble. And couples experiencing infertility (defined as trying to conceive without success for a year or more) should proactively ask for testing that investigates potential male infertility factors, even if their primary healthcare provider doesn’t bring it up.

We consulted recommendations from the CDC and American Pregnancy Association to create this checklist to help you prepare for your fertility checkup, whether you’ve just started thinking about trying for a baby or are seeking answers about infertility.

Fertility Healthcare Visit Checklist for Men

Make the most of your fertility healthcare visit with this list from Beli Men’s Multivitamin 

1.  Schedule a fertility wellness exam with your primary care doctor or a urologist that specialized in men's fertility. Explain that you are planning to try to conceive and would like a preconception wellness exam. If you’ve already been trying to conceive for a while but have not been successful, be sure to ask for your visit to include a sperm analysis,as well as any other tests your urologist recommend.

2.  Before your visit, write down notes about your:
  • Past surgeries 
  • Health conditions 
  • History of health conditions in family members
  • Medications you take
  • Lifestyle, including diet, exercise, and stress
  • Vices, including smoking and drinking alcohol
  • Sex life
  • Work environment
  • How long you’ve been trying to get pregnant, if applicable
  • Your previous history of parenthood, if any
  • Your questions about men’s fertility, support for pregnancy, or anything else you wonder about. 

By coming prepared with the information above, you’ll get the most out of your visit.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

The doctor will give you a physical examination and talk with you about your fertility health. If you’ve been trying to conceive for a year or more without success, ask the urologist to check your sperm. Below are some of the tests urologists use to check different aspects of male fertility. If you’re questioning something regarding your fertility, it’s always OK to ask for the test to learn more information. Good testing gives you and your doctor a thorough picture of your fertility and helps inform decisions about treatment.

Physical Exam

This is the first-line test where your urologist will examine your body to check for physical fertility issues, such as varicocele (an enlarged vein that can block your sperm from ejaculation) and suspected hormonal issues. 

Sperm and Semen Analysis

Your fresh semen sample is analyzed to determine sperm count, morphology (sperm shape), and motility (how well they move). Because sperm count can fluctuate, sometimes doctors request a few collections over time to look at your overall fertility health.

Hormone Evaluation

Hormones are chemical signals that control your biological processes. Your doctor may recommend blood work to check your levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T), as these affect your sperm production, your sex drive, and your ability to have sex. If it is indicated based on your symptoms, some doctors also check for luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, and prolactin.

Genetic Testing

Genetic tests are a deep-dive where researchers look for chromosomal issues and DNA fragmentation in sperm.

Testicular Biopsy

This biopsy involves a testicular sample taken with a needle or through incision. It can show whether healthy sperm is being made in the testes. 

If indicated by these screenings, your doctor may order additional tests and imaging, or make recommendations to support your fertility health.

 

Any statement made on Belibaby.com has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We recommend consulting with your medical provider before starting any new supplement.

This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Beli.

Additional Resources

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When the plan is a baby, but you’re having a hard time conceiving, it’s normal to start wondering why. While there can be a number of issues in play, one tends to be overlooked: sleep quality. Specifically, men who have the sleep disorder sleep apnea could be at greater risk of fertility issues. Now, new research is drawing a more definitive link between sleep apnea and male fertility. Let’s review.

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Read More

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Read More

Miscarriage is a complex issue, and while sperm health is just one factor, it's a crucial one. By understanding the statistics and research surrounding miscarriage and sperm health, couples can take proactive steps to improve fertility outcomes. Beli Vitality for Men offers a comprehensive fertility supplement solution, supported by industry research and designed to improve sperm health. By combining Beli Vitality with healthy lifestyle choices, couples can optimize their fertility journey and increase their chances of a successful pregnancy.

Read More

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Read More

The summer heat really can have a temporary effect on male fertility, so doing what you can to keep cool, especially if the goal is becoming a dad, is really important. Here are tips to keep you and the boys cool this summer.

Read More

If you’re no stranger to the telltale signs of seasonal allergies—sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, irritated eyes, the works—you’re likely familiar with antihistamines. When you’re actively trying to conceive, there’s more to understand about histamines, seasonal allergies and how it affects your fertility.

Read More

When the plan is a baby, but you’re having a hard time conceiving, it’s normal to start wondering why. While there can be a number of issues in play, one tends to be overlooked: sleep quality. Specifically, men who have the sleep disorder sleep apnea could be at greater risk of fertility issues. Now, new research is drawing a more definitive link between sleep apnea and male fertility. Let’s review.

Read More

Fact: You can’t look at a guy—or eyeball his semen sample, for that matter—and determine his fertility. It just doesn’t work that way. The only way to truly assess sperm health is with a semen analysis. But there are a few lifestyle choices and truths that may indicate whether a man’s sperm is healthy and happy. 

Read More

While it’s lumped into the “bodily fluid” category, semen is a complex cocktail of compounds designed to support fertility. Like sperm quality, semen health can be influenced by lifestyle factors—an important realization for couples trying to conceive. From color to consistency, here’s what healthy semen looks like.

Read More

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Read More

For many of us, our twenties and even thirties are a time when the focus is on pregnancy prevention. And that’s okay! But even when the idea of motherhood is miles away there is tremendous value in understanding your fertility health and what you can do to support it during these young, carefree days.

Read More

Raise your hand if you already know that you have a biological clock. From age 35 and beyond, there is a natural decline in testosterone and sperm quality. Just as people lose muscle strength, flexibility and endurance with age, sperm also tend to lose their "fitness" over the life cycle. But what does that mean—and does it really matter?

Read More

It’s an easy assumption, but you’re much better off thinking that every prenatal vitamin is wildly different in terms of composition, nutrient quality and, importantly, nutrient amount. Not only is that actually true, it puts you in the smart consumer mindset of understanding what matters in a prenatal vitamin—and why.

Read More

Men really do benefit from specialized nutrition in the form of a prenatal vitamin that’s formulated to support sperm health. Here’s what that looks like, and how specific nutrients can impact a man’s fertility health before fatherhood.

Read More

Shilajit is finally getting the credit it’s due, and we’re proud to point out that our proprietary formula was the very first to include this powerful Ayurvedic compound. Here’s why shilajit is rapidly becoming the darling of the male fertility world–and what you’re missing if you’re skipping it.

Read More

Ever wondered why men produce so much darn sperm, especially if only one of them will ultimately fertilize the egg? There are millions of sperm in normal ejaculate because it increases the likelihood that one will reach the egg and seal the deal. It begs the question, what exactly happens on the journey to the egg?

Read More

Just as women’s bodies need to be prepared for pregnancy, men’s bodies need to be ready to contribute healthy sperm for conception. Nutrients are the foundation that support the normal structure and function of sperm and men's fertility health. Taking Beli’s male prenatal supplement is a proactive way to strategically fuel your body to optimize fertility contributing to your overall chances of conceiving and supporting a healthy pregnancy.  

Read More

Diet has been suggested to have an influence on the quality and function of human sperm. More specifically, the results of a randomised trial have shown that including nuts as a component of a regular diet improved the quality and function of human sperm.

Read More
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