Some men are not aware that certain lifestyle factors affect theirreproductive health. Fertility Specialists Hummel and Kettel advice men trying to conceive to follow a few recommendations for optimalhealth of their sperm.1. Eat healthy. Healthy food contains vitamins that are essential for the synthesis and development of normal sperm and that reduce the risk ofsperm agglutination (clumping). Taking a multivitamin that supplies 400µg of folic acid and 60mg of vitamin C every day promotes healthysperm and therefore healthier babies.2. Quit smoking. The toxins in cigarettes have adverse effects on sperm quality. Especially when smoking marijuana sperm quality is severely impacted. 3. Limit alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol drinking decreases sperm production andaffects male potency.4. Halt the heat. Sperm thrive at moderate temperatures. A little bit of heat for a short time wonâ??t decrease sperm counts, but prolonged heat will. Men should avoid wearing tight briefsor other restrictive underwear or workout gear that may increase the overall scrotal temperature. In addition, men should avoid the sauna and hot tub when trying to conceive.After making changes for the better, wait a while before trying for a baby. High quality sperm take up to 12 weeks to produce

The Washington Post reports:New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves -- and to......

Minorities are pre-criminals

President Bush is pre-dictator-for-life

The Pope is a pre-cannibal

Your newborn baby girl is a pre-prostitute.

Does either the word, or the concept behind the word still make sense?

ICallMasICM responding to the above quote: Something tells me sheâ??s free most Saturday nights.

Something tells me ICallMasICM is a fool, and a stupid fool at that. The blogger who posted the quoted comment -- Shakespeare's Sister -- is happily married. Her Saturday nights are permanently booked.

Fortunately for her, she is married to a man who does not think that a woman's attractiveness is connected to her ability or wish to reproduce.

That's good of you, James, but not every man is as ethical as you are. And, even more to the point, the CDC is not advising you to refrain from smoking, drinking, or hitting your wife because you might be in a state of pre-impregnation.

Women apparently are to be considered at all times in a state of "pre-pregnancy," as if pregnancy is the default, normal state for a woman, and the rest of the time a woman is in some kind of limbo.

When men are told to consider themselves to be at all times in a state of "woman pre-impregnator," and told not to drink or smoke because they might be unintentionally harming a baby they didn't know they had made, then come back and we can talk.

As to the cat litter and such, I agree. Itâ??s smart, however, to be cognizant of the risks involved and to exercise some judgment. And, if you can afford it, a self-cleaning litter box might be a good investment.

When and if you find one, let me know. I am in a state of permanent post-pregnancy myself, but I would still be happy to have my cats' litter box clean itself.

As an added note, did you know that pregnant women are not supposed to eat sushi and sashimi (or any raw fish) for the same reason they are advised not to scoop the kitty litter? I guess women from start of menses to menopause should refrain from eating that, too.

Which means that my 16-year-old daughter -- pre-pregnant by definition -- is endangering her nonexistent fetus when she indulges in one of her favorite foods.

James: What�s the alternative, then? Hide these findings from America�s women? One would think that might lead to some lawsuits, too.

Frank: how?

James: Ask the tobacco companies.

The same tobacco companies who had been required for years by federal law, to post the Surgeon General's warning on every pack of cigarettes -- and were still accused of hiding the potential harm of smoking from all those smokers, and forced in court to hand over billions of dollars for it.

It's hilarious that lawyers have come to see disclaimers and warnings as some kind of inoculation against legal liability.

Something tells me she's free most Saturday nights.

What exactly would 'pre-conception planning for men' entail?

Consider yourselves pre-laid.

As to the cat litter and such, I agree. It's smart, however, to be cognizant of the risks involved and to exercise some judgment. And, if you can afford it, a self-cleaning litter box might be a good investment.

Josh: My wife will soon start on pre-natal vitamins for that reason. The worst case scenario is, what, that she'll just get too darned healthy for no good reason?