How long after taking cold medicine can a man father a child?

Generally, it is recommended that men wait 15-30 days after taking cold medicine before trying to conceive. If there are concerns, it is advisable to consult a healthcare provider in advance. Detailed analysis is as follows:

If symptoms are mild and the cold medicine is metabolized quickly, it is generally safe to try to conceive after 15-20 days. When symptoms are mild and the cold medicine is rapidly metabolized, the residual medication in the male body will be relatively minimal, and the body can recover quickly. The components of cold medicine typically do not remain in the body for an extended period; after 15-20 days, most of the medication has been metabolized and excreted. At this point, the quality and quantity of male sperm have generally returned to normal levels, making it feasible to consider conception.

If symptoms are severe and the cold medicine has significant side effects, men should wait 20-30 days before attempting conception. In such cases, there may be more residual medication in the male body, and a longer recovery period is required. The components of cold medicine may have considerable side effects on the body, such as affecting sperm quality and quantity. Therefore, under these circumstances, men should wait 20-30 days to ensure all residual medication has been completely excreted and the body has recovered to a condition suitable for conception.

When selecting cold medicine, men should choose medications that do not affect sperm production or transportation. Additionally, during the preconception period, men should maintain healthy lifestyle and dietary habits to improve sperm quality and quantity.

【References】

[1] Wang Jiawei. Knowing Medication [M]. People's Medical Publishing House: 202209. 170.

[2] General Index of Family Medicine (Part A) 2018 (Issues 1–11). Family Medicine, 2018(12):59-64.