A father’s health and age can affect his partner’s chances of conceiving, as well as the health of the future child. There are simple steps you can take to help ensure that you are as healthy and fit as possible to be a parent.

If you want to have a baby, it is important that:

• Start trying to get pregnant before age 40, if possible
• Be in a healthy weight range
• Quit Smoking
• cut down on alcohol
• Avoid exposure to some chemicals

about your age

Men can make sperm at the age of 70 and beyond, but sperm quality declines as they age. Men over the age of 40 have less healthy sperm than younger men. If you are 45 or older, your partner may take longer to conceive and be more likely to miscarry. Older fathers are at greater risk of having a child with autism or a mental health condition such as schizophrenia, compared to younger fathers.

Of course, you can’t control your age – but if you’re older and considering pregnancy, start trying ASAP.

Your health is important

About half of infertility cases are due to a problem that the man has, so it is a good idea to have a general medical examination before trying to conceive. Talk to your doctor about any tests you may need, and whether you should avoid any medications you may already be taking.

You have a better chance of getting pregnant if you have healthy sperm. The best way to ensure you get plenty of healthy sperm is to keep your testicles cool, as heat affects the testicles’ ability to make sperm. For a few months before you want to get pregnant, you can help keep your testicles cool by avoiding very hot baths or spas, not putting your laptop on your lap, and wearing loose-fitting underwear.

If you are planning to have a baby, check if you have any sexually transmitted infections, as they can lead to infertility. Getting tested before pregnancy reduces the risk of passing the infection to your partner or baby.

If you have a medical condition such as cancer, talk to your doctor if you think you’ll want to have a baby in the future. There are ways to preserve your fertility, such as extracting and freezing sperm or small pieces of testicular tissue. Your doctor needs to know your wishes before starting cancer treatment.

Complementary or alternative medicines

Complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and massage, may improve your overall health, but there is no evidence that they can enhance your fertility. It is always best to speak to your doctor before embarking on any complementary or alternative treatments.

Pre-pregnancy and your lifestyle

A healthy weight increases your chance of having a healthy baby. Being overweight affects the quality of your sperm, lowers your sex drive, and can make it more difficult to maintain an erection. Being underweight can also make it difficult to get pregnant.

The best way to reach a healthy weight is to eat a nutritious diet and exercise regularly. If you are overweight or obese, losing just a few kilograms should help. You and your partner should encourage each other to lead a healthy lifestyle. Follow the Australian Dietary Guidelines and aim for a variety of healthy foods each day and foods less salt, sugar and added fats.

Each week, try to do two and a half to five hours of moderate-intensity physical activity or half an hour to two and a half hours of vigorous physical activity. Simply sitting less and moving more will help. Find easy ways to incorporate physical activity into your lifestyle from the Department of Health website.

Things to avoid

smoking:  There is no safe limit for smoking. If you are trying to have a baby, it is important to quit smoking at least 3 months before you start trying for a baby. Smoking can affect erections, it damages the DNA in sperm, and smoking more than one pack of cigarettes a day increases a child’s risk of leukemia.

For help quitting smoking, call Quitline at 13 7848.

Drinking:  Excessive  alcohol intake affects  your sex drive, makes it difficult to maintain an erection, and affects the quality of your sperm. You don’t have to quit alcohol – just reduce your alcohol intake and keep it within safe limits. There is no evidence that caffeine (such as coffee) will affect a man’s chance of conception.

Medications:  Your doctor will tell you if it’s OK to continue taking your medications and any vitamins or supplements. Medications that can affect your fertility include opioid pain relievers, as well as medications for depression and anxiety. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can also affect your fertility.

Steroids:  Taking anabolic steroids can prevent you from producing sperm. It can shrink the testicles, while affecting erection and sex drive. It may take up to two years after stopping anabolic steroids for a person’s sperm health to return to normal.

Drugs:  Avoid all recreational drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and marijuana as they can cause permanent fertility problems.

Chemicals:

Where do you get help?

You can find more information from:

• Talk to your doctor
• Your Fertility For information about male and female fertility
• A healthy man for information about men’s health and fertility
• Call Pregnancy, Childbirth & Baby at 1800882436 to speak to the Maternal and Child Health Nurse