How long does a man need to abstain before conceiving a child, the effect on sperm maturation

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For fertilization to occur and pregnancy to begin to develop, special conditions are required. So, you need to wait until ovulation, when the egg matures. Is abstinence necessary before conception?

Male abstinence: pros and cons

When we talk about abstinence before conception, we most often mean male abstinence. And the main reason for its need is the quality of the seminal fluid. It has been proven that the activity and viability of sperm directly depend on the degree of their maturity. According to this theory, if a partner regularly, and especially often, has sex, then his reproductive cells will not have time to mature, that is, they will not be able to reach the egg and then fertilize it.

But in everything you need to observe moderation, including when planning a pregnancy. And if you overdo it, you may not only fail to achieve the desired and expected results, but also aggravate the situation. Thus, excessively long abstinence is harmful to men's health, since it can, on the contrary, significantly deteriorate the quality of seminal fluid, as well as negatively affect libido (this, of course, will not contribute to successful conception).

How long

According to doctors' recommendations, a man should not drink drinks containing alcohol at least 70 days before planned conception. People who frequently drink alcohol should pay attention to this point, as they have an increased risk of creating offspring with all sorts of abnormalities.

Men who lead a healthy lifestyle may not strictly count the days until the big day. If alcohol does not enter the body 3-4 days before the planned conception, this will be enough for them.

Important! This period is a minimum. It is worth understanding that the longer the period of abstinence, the better not only for the general condition of the child, but also for the parent’s own health.

Conception does not always happen the first time, which is why a man should abstain from drinking alcohol for as long as possible. The more healthy cells there are in the body, the greater the likelihood of having a child with good health and, therefore, a healthy and happy future.

How long should a man abstain from intimacy?

It is impossible to determine the exact duration of the period of abstinence, because firstly, much depends on the individual needs and characteristics of the body, and secondly, it is not known for certain how long it takes for sperm to fully mature.

Many doctors advise men planning a child to avoid sexual intercourse for two to three days, this is quite enough for the maturation of germ cells. Longer abstinence can cause discomfort for the partner or lead to stress caused by the need to strictly limit oneself, going against one's desires.

How does alcohol affect the process of conception?

And after a certain time, the woman finds out that she became pregnant precisely during the period when she drank alcohol. Against the backdrop of a long-awaited pregnancy, the question of its termination arises, since the conception occurred while intoxicated. In this case, several physiological and biochemical facts will be useful to make the right decision:

Alcohol is a cellular poison, having embryo- and fetotoxic effects.
Alcohol penetrates into all fluids of the body and into the cell.
Reduces the motor activity of sperm, both those carrying a healthy set of chromosomes and those with a damaged gene pool.
Changes hormonal levels, preventing the normal course of pregnancy.

However, not all factors of alcohol can lead to negative consequences:

Alcohol taken in reasonable quantities is neutralized by the liver enzyme system.
After a single dose, alcohol is completely eliminated from the body within three days.
A mature sperm and a mature egg are completely autonomous systems during their short life span. The sperm is ready for conception within 72 hours, the egg within 24 hours. Therefore, drinking alcohol in the first days after conception is unlikely to affect the development of the fetus.
The zygote formed after fertilization during the first weeks is also a self-sustaining system.
From the 7th to the 10th day after fertilization, the developing embryo is immersed in the surface layer of the uterine mucosa and does not yet have contact with the maternal blood.
By the 14th day, the primary placenta is formed, providing the first close contact of the embryo with the mother’s body.
Any severe external or internal factor that affects the proper formation of a sperm or egg that enters fertilization leads to spontaneous termination of pregnancy in the early stages, up to 8-12 weeks of gestation.
Today, all antenatal clinics are equipped with screening programs to detect congenital pathologies.

The likelihood of harm to the embryo caused by alcohol in the first weeks after conception will depend on what week of pregnancy the alcoholic drink was taken, in what quantity and how often it was taken.

And only after carefully weighing all the factors should one think that alcohol during conception fatally dooms the pregnancy to its termination.

Female abstinence: is it necessary?

When considering the issue of abstinence when planning pregnancy, it is believed that its necessity applies exclusively to all men. But sometimes it is also useful or even necessary for a woman to limit or exclude sexual contact for a while.

Strong reasons in favor of female abstinence:

It is believed that regular sex life and especially frequent orgasms, which provoke muscle contractions, can change the position of the uterus, as well as its cervix. And this can become a serious obstacle for sperm, which simply will not reach the goal and will not complete their main task - they will not fertilize a mature egg.
Unfortunately, many women have gynecological diseases, including chronic ones. And with most of them, inflammatory processes occur in the genitals, which can reduce the chances of successful fertilization. And abstinence will allow for sanitation, that is, to stop inflammation and eliminate infection. And this is necessary for two reasons. The first is the negative impact of diseases and their symptoms on the course of pregnancy. Some pathological changes and disturbances in the functioning of the organs of the reproductive system can provoke termination of pregnancy or disruptions in the development of the fetus. The second reason is the acidic environment that develops in the vagina during inflammation. Such conditions are considered extremely unfavorable for sperm, reducing the chances of conception.
The next reason is related to the sexual needs of many women. They are somewhat different from the requests of men, and most representatives of the fairer sex do not necessarily have to have sexual intercourse every day, so from this point of view, abstinence does not contradict female physiology and even corresponds to biological rhythms. And if your sex life is completely satisfying, then this automatically increases the chances of pregnancy.

But women don’t need to get carried away either, since the most necessary condition for fertilization is ovulation, which lasts only 24-36 hours. And if abstinence is too long, then the partners may simply miss the moment at which a mature egg is released from the burst follicle, and then conception will not occur.

Duration of the period of female abstinence

By studying the biological rhythms and needs of the average representative of the fairer sex, we can come to the conclusion that abstinence for three to five days will be useful. During this time, the woman will be able not only to relax physically and psychologically, but also to stop existing inflammation, creating a more favorable environment in the vagina.

What else needs to be done for successful conception?

It is necessary for both parents to know how much they should not drink before the expected conception of a child. A man’s body is designed in such a way that for him the period during which it is necessary to abstain from drinking alcohol is somewhat longer than for a woman. Sperm formation occurs over a period of approximately 2 months. Thus, in order to conceive a child without unnecessary problems, a man must not drink for at least 2 months before conception.

Ethanol, which is part of any alcoholic drink, has a negative effect on sperm. Men who regularly drink alcohol may develop infertility even after a short period of time. However, not everything depends only on the future father. A woman, if she takes a responsible approach to planning a child, should also know how much not to drink before conceiving.

All given periods are only the minimum period during which you should not drink alcohol. If a couple wants to have a truly healthy child, then they should know that before conception, no matter how much time has passed since the last time they drank alcohol, they must be examined by a doctor, because

Drinking alcohol before conception and during pregnancy means harming your unborn child. All alcoholic beverages contain ethyl alcohol, the harmful effects of which are known to everyone. Therefore, future parents must definitely refrain from consuming even minimal doses of alcohol before the planned conception of a child.

Opponents of alcoholic beverages often exaggerate their harmful effects on the body, describing the very terrible consequences of its use. However, the consequences can actually be catastrophic, regardless of the person’s gender.

If a man drinks alcohol before conception, this will inevitably affect the health of his unborn child. The effects may appear immediately or some time after birth. Often such problems remain even in mature adults. Therefore, every man who is worried about the fate and health of his unborn child should know how much he should not drink before conceiving, so that alcohol does not affect the development of the unborn baby.

However, it is necessary not only to find out how much you should not drink, but also to strictly adhere to the established regime. In children whose parents drank alcohol shortly before conception, various deviations of alcoholic origin occur. These children suffer:

increased excitability of the autonomic nervous system;
anxiety and increased physical activity;
sleep disorders, drowsiness and insomnia;
restless character, such children often cry for no reason, and it is very difficult to calm them down.

Characteristic signs that parents did not know how long to protect themselves from alcoholic beverages appear in their children even at a conscious age:

at school, such children get tired much faster than their peers;
they often suffer from headaches;
the child suffers from various sleep disorders, nightmares, sleepwalking;
such children have emotional instability, they can be either too fearful or too aggressive;
Children are often depressed.

Physically, signs that the child’s parents did not know how long to abstain from drinking alcohol appear in pathologies of adipose tissue and muscle weakness.

One of the most severe consequences of drinking alcohol before conception is the development of dementia of varying severity in children.

Against the background of emotional instability, many children develop a complex character. They are prone to inappropriate actions and conflict, and are too stubborn.

Adolescents and adults whose conception was influenced by alcohol develop various phobias that significantly reduce the quality of life. Such people feel insecure and have low self-esteem. They can be overly responsible, often to the detriment of their own interests, and practically do not know how to refuse.

Thus, knowing how long to abstain from drinking alcohol, the future father significantly increases the likelihood that he will have a physically and mentally healthy child.

Every man should know not only how long to abstain from drinking alcohol, but also why this should be done. The effect of alcohol on the health of future offspring has already been discussed. No less important is the question of its effect on the body of the man himself.

Disputes about the dangers of alcoholic beverages are based on the fact that alcohol, which is the basis of any alcoholic drink, does not have the so-called in its pure form. teratogenic properties. In view of this, some experts argue that alcoholic beverages in themselves are not a factor provoking the appearance of biological deformities, various anomalies and developmental defects.

However, under the influence of alcohol, the strength of natural protective barriers decreases. If a person is in good health, alcohol may not have any noticeable harmful effects on their strong immune system for a long time. If a person’s immunity is weakened, alcohol can cause very serious damage to his health.

However, drinking alcohol before conception is contraindicated for men with any health condition. First of all, ethanol has a destructive effect on sperm. It disrupts their morphology and reduces the speed of movement. On average, the sperm of a healthy man contains about 20-30% “bad” sperm.

If a woman becomes pregnant from a man who drank alcohol shortly before conception, she needs to undergo additional examination by a geneticist. He will analyze the amniotic fluid and be able to diagnose genetic abnormalities.

Everyone knows from an early age how harmful alcohol is for an expectant mother. However, the future father bears no less responsibility for the health of his child. The success of conception largely depends on the man. Some people mistakenly believe that practically nothing depends on a man. As a result, a man’s careless and irresponsible attitude towards his health can ruin the life of his unborn child. A man and a woman bear equal responsibility for the physical, psychological and genetic health of the unborn baby.

A healthy, physically developed and strong man who does not abuse alcohol should abstain from drinking alcohol for at least 2-3 months before conception.

If a man drank alcohol quite often, he will need to spend more effort to conceive a child. First of all, he needs to give up alcoholic drinks for at least 3 months. It is necessary to quit smoking at least 6-7 months before the expected conception.

A man should devote more time to physical activity. It will help accelerate metabolic processes and cell regeneration. The diet must be reviewed. All harmful products are excluded from it, especially a variety of fast food. The doctor may recommend taking a course of fortification, which will improve metabolism, normalize the functioning of the reproductive system and generally improve the health of the body.

The diet must contain zinc, vitamin E and B vitamins. Vitamin B11, also known as levocarnitine, deserves special attention. This vitamin is synthesized by the kidneys and liver. However, its quantity is usually not enough. Thanks to levocarnitine, the number and motility of sperm increases, which will contribute to successful conception. Taking any vitamins or other medications should be discussed with your doctor.

Avoiding alcoholic beverages before conceiving a child is one of the fundamental factors in the psychological, physical and genetic health of the unborn baby. However, a man needs not only to stop drinking, but also to generally focus all his efforts on improving the health of his body. Only by ensuring a comprehensive and competent approach can you count on successful conception and proper development of the child. Health to you and your baby!

Drawing conclusions

If you study everything written above, you can conclude that in certain cases abstinence will actually be useful and will increase the chances of a planned pregnancy. Yet it is not the only prerequisite for conception, and some factors have a more pronounced influence.

You should have regular sex life, because it is logical that the more often partners have sexual intercourse, the higher the likelihood that the fusion of male and female reproductive cells will occur, which will lead to the birth of a new life. According to statistics, couples who make love daily or every other day achieve what they want in 25-30% of cases. If sexual intercourse occurs once every two to three days, then the chances are reduced to 20-22%. With sex once a week, only 10% of partners manage to prolong their labor. And less frequent sexual intercourse (once every one to two months) can lead to infertility.

It is equally important for both spouses to prepare for pregnancy, namely, to lead a healthy lifestyle: give up all bad habits, eat a varied and balanced diet, and, if possible, exercise. And such recommendations are given by doctors much more often than advice on abstinence.

It only remains to add that abstinence is sometimes useful, but still does not guarantee pregnancy.

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