Álvaro Fernández, pharmacist: "If the father drinks or smokes in the three months before conception, there is a greater risk of having a birth problem."

Responsibility for the health of the unborn child also falls on the father, as pharmacist Álvaro Fernández emphasizes. "If the father drinks or smokes in the three months prior to conception, there is a greater risk of the baby being born with problems," the expert asserts, sending a strong message about the paternal influence on pregnancy.

Popular culture emphasizes healthy habits for pregnant women, but the role of men is barely recognized. Fernández laments that "little is said about the importance of the father's health" and points out that alcohol and tobacco use can compromise semen quality . Thus, prevention is not exclusively a female responsibility: both parents share the duty to protect the well-being of their future child.

Sperm exposed to toxins can suffer DNA alterations , increasing the likelihood of malformations and other problems during fetal development. This risk, still unknown to a large part of the population, reinforces the need to adopt healthy habits before attempting pregnancy.

Avoidable risks

Various studies confirm that harmful substances ingested by men affect the genetic makeup that will later be passed on to the embryo. Thus, a simple drink or cigarette becomes a potential threat capable of compromising the beginning of life. The message is clear: reducing exposure to toxic substances is essential to minimize complications.

Scientific evidence supports this call for caution, confirming cellular damage and epigenetic imbalances related to alcohol and tobacco consumption. Therefore, health organizations and specialists recommend reviewing a man's daily habits when a couple decides to have children.

Key time window

The three-month barrier is no coincidence. As Álvaro Fernández explains, "it's approximately the time it takes for human sperm to mature." During this period, the genetic information that will travel within each reproductive cell is defined, so that any external aggression can be recorded and transmitted to the zygote.

Given this scenario, the pharmacist's practical recommendation is emphatic: "You know," he concludes, "that he should stop smoking and drinking for the three months beforehand for your future child." Adopting healthy behavior for at least ninety days before conception is, according to the specialist, a simple measure that can make a decisive difference in neonatal health.

Promoting shared parental responsibility offers an opportunity to reduce avoidable risks and strengthen a parenting model where both parents are involved from the very beginning. Thus, nurturing preconception habits transcends individuality and becomes a shared commitment to the next generation.