How Age Raises Infertility Risk in Men
Infertility is a common condition that seen in both men and women alike. Most of the infertility cases are due to the fertility issues in men. It is a common myth that men can make a woman pregnant at any age, and that most men are able to have children even after the age of 50 years. In reality, it becomes difficult for men to cause pregnancy after the age of 40 years.
What Is The Biggest Myth About Men and Fertility?
The most frequent and common misconception about men’s fertility is that their age has no effect on fertility. Most men think that no matter what they do, they will not have any fertility problems. That is just not true because there is a decline in men’s fertility as they age.
According to recent research, women, with male partners who are above 45 years of age, took five times longer to conceive than those with partners below 25 years.
How Do Men’s and Women’s Biological Clocks Differ?
The biological clocks are distinctly different in both men and women. When a female child is born the egg supply is set before birth and declines dramatically even before the girl is out of the womb. By the time she reaches menopause the number of eggs gradually declines.
Man produces sperm throughout his life. There is a slight decline in the quality and quantity of sperms that are produced after the age of 40. The concentration of semen remains the same through his life. Age is an important factor for both men and women but comparatively it affects women more than men.
When Does Male Fertility Peak and When Does It Decline?
A detailed semen analysis is required to determine the peak and decline in fertility. Sexual abstinence can hamper the semen quality and can cause decline. Frequent intercourse generally helps in the production of healthier sperms. According to the researchers the semen quality is at its peak between 30-35 years of age whereas, the overall semen quality declines after the age of 55 years.
The Older the Man, the Weaker the Swimmers
Old age also affects sperm motility to a greater extent. Sperm motility refers to the swimming ability of the sperm. Sperm motility is at optimum before 25 years of age, and it declines down after the age of 55. Sperm motility decreases by 54% after 55 years of age.
Increased Risk of Genetic Problems in Older Men
Poor quality of sperm is the major problem in older men that lead to infertility. Age also affects genetic quality of the sperm. The genetic sperm defects may lead to the following disease conditions:
- Decreased fertility or infertility.
- Increased risk of miscarriage.
- Increase chances of still birth.
- Increased risk of birth defects.
Older men are not only at risk of infertility but they also have the tendency to pass on the genetic problems to the offspring. Both the male and female age affect fertility and can increase the risks of birth defects in infants. Down’s syndrome is a common disease seen in children born to the older couples.
Older Men Are More Likely to Have Children With the Following Diseases
- Autism
- Schizophrenia
- Childhood leukaemia
- Bipolar disorder
- Achondroplasia
The problems with fertility are common in older men. But these can be treated by infertility specialists. Hedge Fertility Center has outstanding infrastructure and houses the best specialists to provide treatments for male infertility. Our fertility centers in Hyderabad are known for providing positive results in maximum number of cases.