This article discusses a rather sensitive topic - tests for pregnancy planning for men. The fact is that at present this issue is relevant. Increasingly, modern men are becoming conscious and take family planning very seriously, taking tests and consulting doctors first. This makes it possible to avoid deviations in the development of the child, premature birth and miscarriages. As you know, in many respects the success of the birth of a baby depends not only on the he alth of the future mother, but also on the father.
Where can a man get tested before planning a pregnancy? You can contact the clinic to which the spouses are attached at the place of residence, or paid laboratories.
Features
Men can get tested for pregnancy planning much faster thanwomen. In order for the future father to fully diagnose his state of he alth, you only need to donate urine and blood. In most cases, this is enough to draw up a complete picture. Additional studies are prescribed only if certain venereal or other infectious diseases are suspected.
If there are several unsuccessful attempts to conceive in the anamnesis, you will need to make a spermogram. This will help determine the quality and quantity of spermatozoa and conduct a compatibility test. Such laboratory tests for pregnancy planning for men are quite rare, and therefore you should not worry about them if everything was fine with conception before.
Required minimum
If a man wants to become a father, he needs to go to the urologist. The specialist will examine the genitals, study their structure, visually establish the presence of inflammation, and determine possible deviations from the norm. He will also tell you what tests a man should take when planning a pregnancy. It is mandatory to check the condition of the prostate gland by the rectal method. This examination may be replaced by an ultrasound.
To check for infections, a swab is taken from the urethra. This test is called PCR, or polymerase chain reaction. The study allows you to determine the presence of bacteria and viruses in the genital tract. The most common cause of male infertility is the presence of untreated infections. Pathogenic microorganisms dangerous for conception are papilloma virus, chlamydia andTrichomonas.
Before the PCR, the doctor will ask the man to take some provocative actions - drink beer at night and eat s alted fish. A smear is taken in the morning, as all infections will wake up and show up in a smear. If any disease is found, both man and woman should be treated. There is a high probability of the pathogen being in a dormant state.
List of major studies
The list of tests for women and men during pregnancy is largely the same. But there are also differences. As soon as a smear was taken from the future dad and the result was obtained, you can undergo the necessary studies. These include:
- Complete blood count is a standard procedure for every medical examination. It makes it possible to determine the course of inflammation processes (by the level of ESR), as well as to check the norm of hemoglobin and leukocytes.
- What other tests a man needs when planning a pregnancy is the determination of the blood type and Rh factor. Such a study of the biological fluid is necessary because it allows you to determine the Rhesus conflict. With a negative value for a man and a positive value for a woman, a conflict between the body of the mother and the child may occur. This is a potential danger to the bearing of the fetus. To support the woman's body, she is prescribed medication.
- Complete urinalysis is another mandatory study that allows you to exclude the inflammatory process in the genitourinary system. WBC levels will risefor any pathologies, that is, a therapeutic course is needed. Tests for pregnancy planning for men do not end there.
- A blood test for biochemistry makes it possible to get a detailed picture of the state of he alth. Biomaterial is taken from a vein. Thanks to the analysis, you can find out about the state of the liver and kidneys, determine the concentration of sugar in order to exclude diabetes.
- The next important test is a blood test for the presence of syphilis, HIV and hepatitis viruses. This will allow you to identify the infection at an early stage, which will greatly facilitate the fight against it.
What else is on the list of tests for men when planning a pregnancy?
Additional Research
If there have been problems with conception in the past, the urologist may order other tests for the man:
- The study of hormones makes it possible to determine the level of testosterone in the blood, it is he who is responsible for the production of spermatozoa and early fertilization. What tests to take for a man when planning a conception are interesting to many.
- Thanks to the spermogram, the diagnosis of "infertility" is excluded or confirmed. Before taking the test, you must not drink alcohol and energy drinks for several days, do not take sleeping pills and a number of other drugs (the doctor will indicate them). For a while, visits to the bathhouse, gym and sauna are excluded. You will have to give up exotic dishes and spices in the diet. The semen is collected at the clinic as it must be fresh (herreceived when masturbating a maximum of three hours ago).
Tests for a man before planning a pregnancy are mandatory:
- If there is a history of inflammation of the reproductive system or prostatitis, you need to additionally take a smear from the urethra for the secretion of the prostate gland.
- As an alternative to expensive tests, an ultrasound examination is prescribed if there are complaints of pain in the lower abdomen or in the groin area.
- Electrocardiogram is required, in particular, after the age of forty. Such a survey is also relevant for overweight men who have bad habits and abuse alcohol.
Tests for women and men when planning a pregnancy can be very informative.
Recommendations
To quickly conceive a baby, in addition to passing the examination, you must follow a number of simple recommendations:
- do not use tight underwear;
- give up bad habits: energy drinks and alcohol, smoking;
- adhere to the principles of proper nutrition;
- temporarily do not go to the bathhouse, sauna, refuse a hot shower;
- eliminate significant physical activity;
- refrain from masturbation as it affects sperm quality;
- avoid contact with toxic chemicals;
- eliminate sexually transmitted infections by avoiding promiscuity.
It happens that even perfectly he althy people may not conceive soon. Sucharea is still poorly understood by science. However, compliance with all the conditions listed above will definitely accelerate the arrival of the desired pregnancy. We talked about tests for men when planning a pregnancy. Next, find out how a woman prepares for conception.
Features of preparing women for pregnancy
Pregnancy planning includes:
- medical consultation;
- examinations and tests;
- rejection of wrong lifestyle and bad habits.
All of the above applies to both men and women. Both partners must be he althy and actively prepare for conception. It is important for a woman first of all to bypass all specialists who can inform her about possible contraindications for pregnancy at the present time.
List of doctors
The list of doctors is as follows:
Gynecological consultation. The specialist will keep a history of the expectant mother's pregnancy, from the planning stage to examinations after the birth of the child. The first trip to the doctor should be at least three months before the intended conception. It is necessary to come immediately after the end of menstruation, do not use intimate hygiene products. Do not have sex the day before visiting the gynecologist. You need to stop taking strong drugs, antifungal agents and antibiotics two weeks before taking. This is to ensure that the smear results are as reliable as possible
Gynecological exam is usually painless,however, if there are violations in the area of the vagina and uterus, discomfort may appear. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor will give directions to all the necessary tests, recommend taking vitamins, and talk about the lifestyle in preparation for conception.
Also, the gynecologist collects information that is needed for childbirth: features of the anatomical narrowing of the pelvis and deformation of its bones. If there are no contraindications or they are treated, the next examination by a doctor will be either when pregnancy occurs, or if it is absent within six months.
- Therapist's consultation. The doctor will examine the future mother and prescribe tests that are needed in the presence of chronic diseases. If there are such and create contraindications, a specialist will give referrals to narrow-profile doctors for their treatment. The therapist, together with the gynecologist, will monitor the patient's pregnancy and make recommendations.
- Consultations of the following specialists are also required: dentist, otolaryngologist, mammologist, endocrinologist, ophthalmologist, geneticist, allergist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, etc.
Examinations and tests for women
Women don't have to wonder what kind of research they give up before planning a pregnancy. Specialists usually give referrals for tests as needed. For all women are mandatory:
- Smear on flora. It is taken from the urethra, uterine cervix and vagina during the first gynecological examination with a special spoon. Suchthe analysis makes it possible to detect hidden infections or inflammations that could manifest themselves during pregnancy against the background of reduced immunity.
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
When examined by a gynecologist, it is not possible to study the inner uterine layer - the endometrium, to which the fetal egg should be attached. The entire pelvic area can only be seen on ultrasound.
- Smear on atypical cells. This is a cytological analysis - during the study, the cells of the uterine cervix and their features are studied. The smear is taken with a brush or spatula. Such an analysis helps to identify cancer at any stage, even very early. Like any other pathology, cancer during pregnancy develops much more intensively, becomes even more dangerous.
- Blood research. When planning a pregnancy, three tests are required: general (its purpose is to study the state of the body as a whole), biochemical (to determine blood clotting), blood sampling for sugar content.
- Study of biological fluid for hormones. It is not prescribed in all cases, indications are painful periods, cycle failures, excess weight, miscarriages or abortions, unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant.
- Blood testing for genetics. This analysis when planning a pregnancy can forever break the hopes of the spouses if hereditary contraindications are found.
- Torch-analysis - a study on ToRCH-infection. It shows the presence of the most dangerous ailments: rubella, toxoplasmosis, genital herpes,cytomegalovirus. A woman must have antibodies to any of these diseases, otherwise it is strictly forbidden to become pregnant until they are completely eliminated.
- PCR diagnosis of STIs, etc.
Diagnostics is used to detect other dangerous diseases: hepatitis C or B, HIV, human papillomavirus infection, chlamydia, syphilis, gardnerellosis, tuberculosis, ureaplasmosis, infectious mononucleosis, etc. As with ToRCH infections, any pathology from this list is a contraindication for conception. Diagnosis is carried out in several ways: analysis of urine, saliva, blood and urogenital smear.
Urine analysis. Performed to diagnose diseases of the genitourinary tract
In modern laboratories, the results of the study are provided very quickly, sometimes even on the day of delivery. If some analysis revealed contraindications to pregnancy, then there is nothing irreparable in this: most of the diseases are treated, the right therapy is selected for them.
The main thing to remember is not to panic, follow the recommendations of experts and lead a he althy lifestyle. In a few months, the coveted permission to conceive and give birth to a child will be received.
What tests should a man take when planning a pregnancy, it is important to find out in advance.
Compatibility tests
In the process of passing surveys and analyzes for the compatibility of partners, there are studies that are recommended in a pair for both. It is especially important duringplanning to take genetic tests. What kind of research is required before pregnancy?
- Analysis for the Rh factor. It is imperative to know exactly what this indicator is for future parents. When a woman has a negative Rh factor or this value is different for partners, the patient will need an injection of anti-Rh-gammaglobulin. Otherwise, the female body's immune reaction may appear, directed against the baby.
- Research on genetic incompatibility. Such an analysis of the venous blood of both partners examines it for leukocyte antigens. It happens that the female body does not produce antibodies to protect the baby and the placenta, the embryo is rejected, there is a threat of miscarriage.
- Karyotyping is a chromosomal blood test.
This analysis is assigned to exclude the possibility of having a child with disabilities. This happens if the chromosomes of a woman and a man are very similar. Usually, absolute genetic incompatibility is rare, but it cannot be ruled out. Karyotyping does not require special preparation. This analysis of genetics in the process of pregnancy planning is one of the most significant.
Postcoital test. In some cases, pregnancy does not occur for a long time, despite positive tests and the normal he alth of partners. The reason may be the uterus, which secretes antisperm bodies. This is determined through a compatibility study, that is, a “postcoital test”. It requires significantpreparation: during 3-4 cycles, basal body temperature is measured, an ovarian ultrasound is performed, STD tests are done and ovulation tests for a woman
Conclusion
Currently, medicine can help to conceive a child, even for those couples who have poor prognosis. The most important thing to do is to take care of pregnancy planning in advance, take tests on time, visit doctors and strictly follow their recommendations.
We reviewed the tests of a woman and a man before planning a pregnancy.
