Fertility: The Role of Fathers, Optimal Age for Childbearing, and Diseases Affecting Marriage and Reproduction

**89. How to be a good father?**

Both parents play important roles in a child's development, especially the father, who plays a crucial role in the male role.

(1) Father's guidance on children's physiology. Fathers are generally responsible for answering boys' questions about physiology during puberty. Fathers need to teach their children the importance of sexual hygiene and how to keep their genitals clean. In cases of phimosis, fathers should take their children to see a doctor for further surgical treatment as soon as possible.

(2) The father's influence on the child's personality. If the mother completely "controls" the education of her children, it will make boys "feminine" and girls more delicate. The father's rugged personality and other masculine characteristics can compensate for some deficiencies in the child's education. In addition, a father's kind and approachable attitude, without being overly indulgent, and his ability to maintain a proper balance in education, provides the best conditions for cultivating children's excellent qualities such as simplicity, integrity, and selflessness.

(3) The father is the bridge for a child to enter society. The mother represents more of the natural, physiological, and psychological aspects. The mother's role is more significant when the child is young, but the father's role becomes increasingly important as the child grows older. Today's society is still largely male-dominated, offering far more opportunities for men than women. Therefore, fathers generally possess advantages such as rich practical experience, open-mindedness, and strong character, which are beneficial in educating children. The father represents the external, orderly world; he understands the rules of competition and value standards in society. Fathers have a deeper understanding of the division of labor and changes in society. Children learn about the society they are about to enter largely through the window of their father. Therefore, it can be said that the father is a bridge for a child to transition from the family to society.

**90. What is the best age for men to have children?**

Although men have a much longer reproductive lifespan than women, almost throughout their lives, there is still an optimal age range from a eugenic perspective. Taking sperm quality as an example, while older men's sperm may not be aged and their density may be high, their motility shows a significant decline. The number of immotile and abnormal sperm increases by 20%, and the rate of sperm metabolism also slows down, producing a considerable amount of waste. The adverse effects on offspring are self-evident.

The optimal age for men to father children is 30-35 years old. Scientists focus on genetics when it comes to fertility. Research by French geneticist Maurice shows that offspring born to men aged 30-35 are the most outstanding. He surveyed 2,000 soldiers in the country and found that children born to fathers aged 30-35 scored highest on intelligence tests. Male sperm quality peaks at age 30 and remains high for about five years. Furthermore, after age 35, male hormone levels begin to decline, decreasing by an average of 1% per year. Therefore, like women, men also have a reproductive biological clock, although it is more flexible. As men age, sperm, like eggs, can develop genetic problems, and their ability to fertilize an egg decreases significantly. The older a man is, the worse his sperm quality and the more genetic variations he experiences. When men are over 50, it can bring many problems and even disasters to eugenics.

At the same time, men aged 30 to 35 are in their prime. In addition to the internal advantage of excellent physical fitness, they also have other external advantages, such as economic and career stability, superior material conditions for raising children, and mature psychological resilience.

Although male growth and development are complete by age 25, sperm quality has not yet reached its peak at this stage. Physical strength, experience, and social experience are still in their early stages, and the DNA information contained in the sperm is not yet fully developed. Therefore, younger men are not necessarily better when it comes to sperm.

**91. What diseases in men affect their ability to marry and have children?**

Marriage and having children are two of the most important events in life, but for men, certain medical conditions may preclude marriage and childbearing. Let's take a look at which conditions are considered unsuitable and understand why they might make marriage and childbearing less appropriate.

Marriage should be postponed during the infectious period of certain infectious diseases, such as leprosy, syphilis, viral hepatitis, and AIDS. These diseases can be transmitted through blood and sexual intercourse. If an infected person marries and has children, they will not only transmit the disease to their spouse, but the pregnancy may also lead to neonatal syphilis, neonatal immunodeficiency syndrome, and other serious consequences.

Patients with severe, uncorrectable reproductive organ defects or diseases that affect their sex life and fertility, such as true hermaphroditism or congenital absence of the penis, are not suitable for marriage. These patients are often unable to reproduce naturally.

Those suffering from a serious autosomal dominant genetic disease for which there is currently no effective treatment, whose offspring have a high risk of recurrence, and who cannot undergo prenatal diagnosis, such as congenital aniridia, tuberous sclerosis, myotonic dystrophy, etc.

If a man has a severe autosomal recessive genetic disorder, such as congenital deafness, and his spouse also has the same disorder, their children have a high chance of inheriting the condition. Theoretically, if both parents have an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, the probability of their offspring inheriting the disorder is as high as 100%, therefore, marriage and childbearing are not advisable.

Individuals with severe polygenic inherited diseases, such as schizophrenia or congenital heart disease, and belonging to high-risk families, should not have children even if their condition is stable. In high-risk families, the likelihood of their offspring inheriting the related diseases is significantly increased.

**92. Can men also get breast diseases?**

Many people believe that breast disease is a woman's problem, but this is not the case. In recent years, the incidence of male breast disease has also been rising. With improved living standards, excessive nutrition, and increased estrogen levels, many men are developing breast diseases.

Men usually only realize that there is a problem with their breasts when they experience pain or significant breast hyperplasia.

Teenage boys are prone to breast diseases due to factors such as excessive consumption of meat and foods that promote early puberty, unbalanced nutrition, excessive estrogen intake, and obesity. Elderly individuals often develop breast hyperplasia due to chronic diseases such as liver disease, which can impair estrogen inactivation, resulting in excess estrogen in the body.

Boys with breast hyperplasia generally do not require special treatment. As boys enter puberty, the increase in male hormones can counteract the effects of estrogen. Parents only need to encourage their children to exercise more and eat more vegetables and fruits; special treatment methods are generally unnecessary.

However, most cases of breast hyperplasia in older women require treatment. When an older woman develops breast hyperplasia, it's necessary to investigate the underlying cause, such as liver disease, diabetes, or kidney disease. Many older women experience pain during the condition, and there is a possibility of malignancy, so surgical removal is often the best option.

Breast diseases cause great suffering for many men. How can men avoid contracting these diseases?

Men should pay more attention to their diet and exercise. Regular exercise can help prevent the accumulation of excessive fat, as fat is a raw material for estrogen, and obese men are more prone to this disease.

In addition, as men age, their testosterone levels also decrease. Men should be aware of this condition and seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience breast pain or swelling.