When it comes to preparing for pregnancy, many people think it's something that only women should do. However, men also need to take steps to prepare for pregnancy and avoid infertility. There are several diseases that can affect male fertility during the preconception period, and it is important for expectant fathers to not overlook them and undergo proper pre-pregnancy check-ups to ensure the birth of a healthy baby. Here are four diseases that are the focus of male preconception health check-ups.
1. Gonococcal urethritis
Before planning to have a baby, it is recommended that both couples undergo comprehensive reproductive health check-ups. This is because some diseases may not have obvious symptoms. For example, if a man has a sexually transmitted infection, although there may not be any obvious symptoms, he can still infect his wife. Gonorrhea is a type of sexually transmitted infection that may not be detected without a reproductive genitourinary system examination. If this disease is transmitted between couples, it can have a significant impact on the fetus, especially on the female partner. Therefore, preconception reproductive health check-ups are necessary.
2. Abnormal sperm quality
For healthy men, the volume of each ejaculation is generally 2-6 milliliters. If the volume is greater than 6 milliliters or less than 2 milliliters, it is considered abnormal and can affect fertility. In terms of sperm count, a normal range is (50-100)×106 sperm per milliliter. If the number of sperm in each milliliter of semen is less than 20×106, it can also cause male infertility. In addition, if more than 20% of the sperm have abnormalities such as small heads, double heads, double tails, or failure to shed cytoplasm, or if the sperm motility is reduced, it can also lead to male infertility. The longer the interval between sperm production and ejaculation, the lower its vitality. It is best to have intercourse every other day during the ovulation period to increase the chances of conception, as this is when the quality of sperm is the best.
3. Prostatitis
Many people have the misconception that prostatitis is a disease that only affects older men and young people are not prone to it. However, there is no medical evidence to support the idea that young people cannot get prostatitis. Prostatitis can also have a significant impact on fertility and should not be overlooked as a disease.
4. Abdominal diseases
Fatty liver, chronic liver disease (mainly hepatitis B or hepatitis B carriers), alcoholic liver disease, gastritis, peptic ulcers, and colitis are common abdominal diseases that men are prone to. These diseases can also affect fertility, so if any abdominal disease is diagnosed, it is important to treat it before considering pregnancy.
