The six healthy habits men can pick up if they want to be dads
AS the old sayings goes, 'it takes two to tango', so why is there so much pressure on women when it comes to conceiving?
Men more than play their part and there are healthy habits you can adopt if you want to become a dad.
Last week pregnancy charity revealed troubling trends in UK women’s lifestyles while trying for a baby.
They found that more than half of women drank alcohol and four fifths consumed caffeine whilst planning pregnancy.
Around one in five smoked, one in 25 took drugs - with these rates being highest among the under-25s.
The data also showed that less than a third of women took folic acid to improve their health during pregnancy.
While the study didn't look at what men can do to improve their chances of becoming a dad, Tommy’s midwife Sophie King said small changes really can make a big difference.
Dr Raj Mathur, chair of the British Fertility Society said men need to look at factors such as weight, smoking and booze.
Official guidance from the NHS says there are various things you can do to improve your chances of getting a Father's Day card next year.
1. Keep it chilled
In order to produce the best quality sperm, the NHS said you need to keep your testicles cooler than the rest of your body, just below room temperature.
The experts said there are a few things you can do to keep that area nice and cool.
- If you work in a hot environment - take regular breaks outside
- If you have a desk job - get up and move around regularly
- Wear loose fitting underwear such as boxer shorts
2. Stub it out
While you should think about stopping smoking anyway for your general health, the NHS says smoking can reduce fertility so you should give up if you want to become a dad.
Smoking around babies is also dangerous as it can increase their risk of respiratory disease - so it's best to pack in the habit before your bundle of joy comes along.
3. No drugs
Again - if your wanting to become a dad, the safest thing would be to not take recreational drugs.
Recreational drugs such as steroids and cocaine are known to damage sperm quality and reduce male fertility.
4. Change your lifestyle
We should all be trying to look after ourselves and this means looking at our diet, weight and exercise.
This can include making sure you get at least five portions of fruit or veg every day.
The NHS also says being overweight can affect the quality and quantity of your sperm.
The government recently updated its Better Health Campaign, and boasted that its app can help you lose a stone in weeks - as well as creating healthy long term habits.
5. Banish the booze
Boozing to an excessive degree can impact the quality of your sperm.
It's recommended that men drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
One unit is classed as half a pint of beer or one single measure of a spirit such as vodka or gin.
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6. Say no to stress
Trying for a baby can be extremely stressful, especially if it's taking longer than you thought it would.
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NHS guidance states: "Stress can affect your relationship. It can also lower your or your partner's sex drive (libido), which may reduce how often you have sex.
"Severe stress may also limit sperm production. So when trying to have a baby, learning to relax and taking steps to reduce the amount of stress in your life will help."