Father's Role in Preconception Health
Milton Kotelchuck1, Michael Lu2
1MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 8402, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. mkotelchuck@mgh.harvard.edu.
Maternal and Child Health Journal
|October 7, 2017
Summary
Men's preconception health is a new focus that expands fatherhood programs. Prioritizing men's health before conception improves reproductive outcomes and men's own long-term health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Reproductive Health
- Men's Health
Background:
- The concept of men's preconception health emerged from women's preconception health movements and maternal and child health (MCH) life course perspectives.
- It integrates insights from child development, public health data, and family planning research.
- This concept examines how men's health prior to conception influences reproductive outcomes and their own health trajectory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and define the concept of men's preconception health and health care.
- To explore the historical development and challenges of integrating men's preconception health into existing programs.
- To outline the potential positive impacts of men's preconception health on family planning, paternal contributions, women's reproductive health, and men's overall well-being.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual essay and literature review.
- Exploration of the historical development of men's preconception health.
- Identification of six key impact areas of men's preconception health.
Main Results:
- Men's preconception health can positively impact planned pregnancies, paternal contributions, women's reproductive health, and men's own health via primary care access.
- Research in this area is currently limited and fragmented.
- Six potential impact pathways were identified, including enhanced paternal biologic contributions and improved capacity for fatherhood.
Conclusions:
- Men's preconception health is a critical, yet under-researched, area with significant implications for reproductive and men's health.
- A research agenda is proposed focusing on epidemiology, intervention studies, and policy/advocacy.
- Integrating men's preconception health into fatherhood and reproductive health programs is essential for advancing public health goals.
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