Abstract
Several international initiatives have taken place with themes such as "Men as Partners in reproductive health". Furthermore, many articles have recently been published concerning men's preconception care before pregnancy. However, little attention has been paid to this field in Korea. The concept of preconception health and health care for men is very important for pregnancy outcomes, and furthermore, for the health of their future families. Men's contribution to the pregnancy is clear for planned pregnancy and also offers an opportunity for disease prevention and health promotion in men themselves. This paper reviews the important concept of men's health for preparing for pregnancy, and summarizes key component of a comprehensive approach to optimizing the preconception health status of men as expecting fathers. In fact, many clinicians including most obstetricians-gynecologists in Korea are not trained to provide preconception health and care for men. In addition, no consensus has been developed on basic guidelines for preconception care including the pregnancy planning for men and women, laboratory tests before pregnancy, vaccination programs, and much more information on preparing for a successful pregnancy. To improve preconception care for men in Korea, many barriers must be overcome, such as lack of national services, financing, organization, and men's and women's understanding of the importance of preconception health for their pregnancy. Therefore, much more research is needed on men's preconception care in Korea.
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the Cluster Research Fund of Hanyang University (HY-2010).
References
1. Giwercman A, Giwercman YL. Environmental factors and testicular function. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011. 25:391–402.
2. Kim DS. The Korean Society of Urology. Urology. 2001. 3rd ed. Seoul: Korea Medicine Press.
3. Moos MK, Dunlop AL, Jack BW, Nelson L, Coonrod DV, Long R, Boggess K, Gardiner PM. Healthier women, healthier reproductive outcomes: recommendations for the routine care of all women of reproductive age. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008. 199:6 Suppl 2. S280–S289.
4. Frey KA, Navarro SM, Kotelchuck M, Lu MC. The clinical content of preconception care: preconception care for men. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008. 199:6 Suppl 2. S389–S395.
5. Coonrod DV, Jack BW, Boggess KA, Long R, Conry JA, Cox SN, Cefalo R, Hunter KD, Pizzica A, Dunlop AL. The clinical content of preconception care: immunizations as part of preconception care. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008. 199:6 Suppl 2. S290–S295.
6. Wong EW, Cheng CY. Impacts of environmental toxicants on male reproductive dysfunction. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2011. 32:290–299.
8. Brugh VM 3rd, Lipshultz LI. Male factor infertility: evaluation and management. Med Clin North Am. 2004. 88:367–385.
9. McDiarmid MA, Gardiner PM, Jack BW. The clinical content of preconception care: environmental exposures. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008. 199:6 Suppl 2. S357–S361.
10. Ghanem H, Shamloul R. An evidence-based perspective to the medical treatment of male infertility: a short review. Urol Int. 2009. 82:125–129.
11. Gardiner PM, Nelson L, Shellhaas CS, Dunlop AL, Long R, Andrist S, Jack BW. The clinical content of preconception care: nutrition and dietary supplements. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008. 199:6 Suppl 2. S345–S356.
13. Anderson K, Nisenblat V, Norman R. Lifestyle factors in people seeking infertility treatment: a review. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2010. 50:8–20.