What tests does a man take when planning a pregnancy: list, preparation and results

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The opinion that only a woman should be examined when planning a pregnancy is a mistake. After all, a man plays a very important role in conception. He needs to be completely he althy, like his partner, so that the child is born without pathologies. It is important to know what tests a man takes when planning a pregnancy in order to be ready at the doctor's office for all types of examinations. The better the spouses are prepared, the less problems there will be when carrying.

Where should a man start when planning a pregnancy

First of all, moral preparation is needed. If there are no problems with this, then before going to the doctor for several months, you must follow the following recommendations:

• Completely give up alcohol and smoking.
• Regulate body weight when overweight or underweight.
• Do moderate exercise, get enough sleep, reduce stress.
• Limit visits to saunas, baths, beaches where there is exposureon the body of high temperatures.
• Reject synthetic fabrics (underwear) that restrict movement.
• Start taking multivitamins.
• Cure all colds, viral diseases, infections and injuries.
• Completely exclude contact with microwave sources, toxic substances, ionizing radiation.

Which doctor to contact

Only a doctor will tell you what tests a man takes when planning a pregnancy, and will give you referrals. First of all, the future father should contact a urologist, who will prescribe a series of diagnostic examinations.

It will be necessary to undergo an examination for the Rh factor and blood type, hbsag (for hepatitis B) and hepatitis C. Based on the results, the urologist will understand whether additional examination is necessary. Perhaps a referral to narrow specialists will be given: a neuropathologist, a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, a psychologist.

Common blood and urine tests

Urine analysis for men is collected in a sterile container. It is best to buy a special jar for analysis at the pharmacy. Only the first urine, taken immediately after a night's sleep, is suitable for research. It is this analysis that will be the most reliable. With it, you can learn about the state of the urinary system and general he alth.

Complete blood count in men must be taken on an empty stomach in the morning. Blood is taken from a finger. Thanks to this study, the absence or presence of chronic pathologies, anemia, infections and inflammatory processes is determined.

Infection test,sexually transmitted diseases

This is a mandatory screening for women and men. Some infections do not manifest themselves in any way, so a person may not be aware of their presence. If any disease is found in one of the partners, mandatory treatment is necessary, since it can be fatal for the unborn child.

Here is a list of infectious diseases to check for:

• genital herpes;
• chlamydia;
• cytomegalovirus;
• human papillomavirus (types 18 and 16);
• gonorrhea;
• trichomoniasis;
• mycoplasma;
• urogenital candidiasis.

There are several types of laboratory tests for infection:

• Bacteriological examination, for which you need to pass urine. It is placed in a nutrient medium and monitored for bacterial growth.
• Immunoassay. Blood is taken and examined for the presence of antibodies to infectious agents.
• DNA examination of microorganisms. A swab is taken from the urethra or blood and examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This is the fastest and most accurate diagnosis when planning a pregnancy for a man.

Before taking a swab, a drug or food “provocation” is needed. The goal is to exacerbate the infectious disease, if any. For this, a special tablet prescribed by a doctor is taken, a s alty or spicy dish is eaten, or alcohol is drunk.

There are infections that can lead to seriousfetal development problems:

• rubella;
• herpes;
• toxoplasmosis.

Examination is carried out by enzyme immunoassay to determine IgM and IgG antibodies. If IgG antibodies have been detected, then you can safely conceive a child, since the body has already defeated the infection. If IgM antibodies are determined, then the future dad needs to be cured first, and then plan a pregnancy.

Analysis for Rh factor and blood type

Such an examination of a man when planning a pregnancy is simply necessary, since the type of Rh factor can adversely affect the wife's pregnancy. If the expectant mother has a positive Rh, and her partner has a negative one, then there will be several development options. It all depends on what kind of Rhesus the child will take. In this case, a woman needs to take special medications throughout her pregnancy and she will be monitored additionally.

Hepatitis, Wasserman and HIV testing

Blood from a vein for HIV and other diseases can be taken at any time, since eating does not affect the results of the tests. It's better to draw blood before breakfast anyway.

• An HIV test detects the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus, as well as antibodies and antigens to it.
• Through hbsag analysis (for hepatitis B), antibodies to these viruses are detected. If the reaction is positive, this does not mean that the man is sick. In this case, additional examinations are carried out.
• Analysis on RW orthe Wasserman reaction will show the presence of syphilis at any stage of the disease.
• Anti hcv test detects hepatitis C.

Spermogram

Why do I need a spermogram when planning a pregnancy? This is the main analysis that can reveal the possibility of a man to become a father. It is prescribed when a couple fails to conceive a child for a long time. The number of spermatozoa, their shape and mobility are determined.

Some seminal fluid is needed for research. She usually gathers in a specially designated room through masturbation.

It is not recommended to collect ejaculate in advance, since the most accurate result can only be obtained from fresh material, that is, only within 60 minutes after collection. Those men who, for religious or other reasons, are against masturbation, are offered to have sexual intercourse right in the medical center using a special condom.

To get the most informative analysis, you need to carefully prepare for it:

• A couple of months before the test, you should completely give up any alcohol and smoking.
• It is forbidden to take any medication without doctor's approval.
• A few weeks before the spermogram, reduce physical activity to a minimum and refuse to go to saunas, baths.
• Three days before the study, you must stop sexual intercourse and masturbation. Ideally, it is better to abstain for 5-7 days.

Blood chemistry

Helps to determine the presence of diseases of the heart, liver, kidneys, blood vessels, pathologies of the endocrine system. If any abnormalities are found in the blood, the man will have to undergo a more thorough examination. Also, the couple will have to postpone the planning of pregnancy. This study requires preliminary preparation:

• For 2 weeks before the analysis, it is forbidden to take any alcoholic beverages.
• For 3 days before taking blood, you can not eat foods that you have not tried before.
• Sweets (sugar, cakes, chocolate) must be completely avoided 24 hours before the analysis.
• Do not eat or drink for 12 hours before the examination.
• Immediately before taking blood in the morning it is forbidden even to brush your teeth.

If there is some organ that is malfunctioning, tests will definitely show this. The cause of deviations can be chronic pathologies, infections, and so on. In addition, biochemistry will accurately determine the deficiency of vitamins and trace elements.

What tests should be done for hormones for a man

Here is the list:

1. Testosterone responsible for libido and potency. It stimulates the production of high-quality seminal fluid. Exceeded in oncology, and lowered due to chronic inflammation of the prostate.
2. FGS or follicle-stimulating hormone, which normalizes the amount of testosterone and is responsible for the production of sperm. Increased in alcoholism, brain tumors, and deficiency manifests itself in obesity orfasting.
3. Prolactin, which is responsible for water-s alt metabolism in men and sperm quality.
4. LH or luteinizing hormone, which activates the production of testosterone. It also increases the permeability of the seminal canals for him. Deficiency of this hormone is observed in obesity, smoking, chronic fatigue.
5. Estradiol is a hormone produced in the testicles of a man. Its level depends on the degree of obesity of the man. When the hormone is exceeded, a man will often be irritable and nervous.
6. hcg. This is a female hormone, the level of which increases during pregnancy. If it is exceeded in men, this may indicate the presence of a tumor in the testicles.

If you study in detail the hormonal background of a man, you can reveal hidden problems that prevent conception.

Determining prostate he alth

For this analysis, fluid is taken from the prostate, which is obtained in the process of gland massage. The liquid will flow out of the channel itself, after which it is taken for examination. Thanks to this analysis, you can determine prostatitis, prostate adenoma and even cancer.

When genetic testing is needed

Some couples may be referred for genetic testing during pregnancy planning. They are assigned if:

• Some of the partners have hereditary pathologies in the family.
• Their relatives have physical and mental retardation.
• Partners are no longer young, as aging chromosome cells increasethe likelihood of developing problems when carrying a child.
• The family already has a child with hereditary diseases or developmental pathologies.
• A woman has been unable to bear and give birth to a child several times already.
• When male reproductive material is needed for IVF.
• Problems have been found in spermatogenesis.

Additional examination

What tests does a man take when planning a pregnancy yet? In addition to anti hcv and other types of examinations, the following can be additionally prescribed:

• Electrocardiogram, which checks the functional ability of the heart and the presence of pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
• Fluorography to exclude tuberculosis.

Man is often referred for examination to an endocrinologist who diagnoses abnormalities in the functioning of the thyroid gland. Often, such pathologies lead to the suppression of male sexual function.

In addition to the tests, the future father will be recommended to undergo a consultation with a psychologist who will help to tune in to pregnancy, childbirth and the further upbringing of the child.

Does a man's age affect conception

Yes, test results get worse with age. Most of the seminal fluid will have damaged genetic material. This is due to the presence of bad habits, the harmful effects of the environment, medicines, malnutrition, a sedentary lifestyle.

If the future father is over 45 years old, pregnancy from him canoccur with complications, up to miscarriage and premature birth. He especially needs to plan a pregnancy and follow all the recommendations of doctors.

It is necessary to consciously and responsibly approach the conception of a child. It is important to know what tests a man takes when planning a pregnancy, to participate in all activities that are aimed at he althy gestation and childbirth together with his partner. Only in this case the baby will be born he althy!