For both male and female partners:

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle with balanced diet and regular exercise. Aim to keep your body mass index at 23 kg/m2 or below (body weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres).
• Avoid smoking and drinking.
• Have a prepregnancy check-up including blood test to rule out thalassemia and confirm rubella immune status. Couples may consider a sperm test.
• Optimize any underlying medical problems before pregnancy.

For the female partner:

• Folic acid supplement (400 micrograms daily) 3 months before conception
• Blood test to confirm rubella immune status
• Rubella vaccination if not immune

For male partner:

• Avoid tight-fitting pants and prolonged exposure to high temperatures, e.g. hot tubs or jacuzzis.
• Consider having a semen test.