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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.

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Read More

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Read More

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Read More

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Read More

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Read More

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Read More

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Read More