HOW A MAN’S HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE AFFECTS A WOMEN’S PREGNANCY

Posted on Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 at 8:47 am

Women who are thinking about getting pregnant are constantly advised to give up habits—drinking, smoking, drugs—or alter lifestyles which could put a baby’s health at risk. Recently, researchers have been trying to find out whether the same advice holds true for men as well. Since men contribute half of the genetic material to a baby, researchers have been trying to determine what, if any, effect a man’s health or lifestyle has on pregnancy. As yet, no definite conclusions have been reached. However, new studies are underway and experts may soon have some answers to this very important question.

Recent sperm studies have furnished medical experts with the following information:

1) Babies fathered by men who drink alcohol tend to weigh less and have higher chances of birth defects than do babies of non-drinking fathers.

2) Men who smoke tobacco tend to father babies with higher-than-normal rates of birth defects.

3) In some cases, men with lower than average levels of vitamin C produce genetically damaged sperm which could cause birth defects if they fertilize a woman’s egg.

4) Men who are exposed to radiation—usually in the workplace—tend to father children with higher-than-normal incidences of leukemia.

Researchers acknowledge that no conclusive evidence exists to date which would lead to recommending that potential or expectant fathers change their habits or lifestyles. However, the circumstantial evidence and additional studies on the long-term genetic consequences of lifestyles and other factors on sperm may very well lead to such a recommendation in the near future.

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