Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : February 8, 2016 9:25 AM IST
When it comes to pregnancy, everyone is concerned about the mother s age. People warn women to get pregnant before 30 else her biological clock would start ticking, and pregnancy could become complicated or impossible. However, nobody reminds the man that the same is true for him too. It is a known fact that women are born with a finite number of eggs, which declines with age and so planning a pregnancy early is necessary. Even though a man s sperm production continues for a lifetime, the testosterone levels decline post-40s 0r 50s due to bad lifestyle choices that affect the quality of sperm. Here are some surprising facts about sperms and male fertility that you should know.
Here are a few reasons why a man s age is equally important to conceive a baby:
It affects sperm quality: While there might be no change in the sperm concentration of older men as compared to younger men, remember there is a strong link between male age and infertility. A study published in the journal, Fertility and Sterility, pointed out that increased male age is associated with a decline in semen volume, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. In fact, when the pregnancy success rates were compared among men aged 30 and 50, there was a significant drop in success rates [1]. Here is how male fertility issues can come in the way of your pregnancy.
Conception becomes difficult beyond 35: A study published in Human Reproduction (Oxford, England) showed that the likelihood of conception for men ranged from six to 12 months when aged 25 and below. However, if the man s age crossed 30 or 40 the waiting period for pregnancy increased steadily five folds [2]. Here are 35 tips for women to get pregnant after 35.
It increases chances of birth defects: Paternal age is considered to be one risk factor for babies to be born with low birth weight. In fact, advanced paternal age is also linked to various congenital diseases and infant mortality [3]. While maternal age still holds to be a prime factor in conception, it is advisable to keep in mind that a man is not immune to infertility that sets in with age. Planning a pregnancy before 40 (ideally between 30 and 35) stands to be a good decision if you are interested in becoming a parent.
Reference
[1] 1: Kidd SA, Eskenazi B, Wyrobek AJ. Effects of male age on semen quality and fertility: a review of the literature. Fertil Steril. 2001 Feb;75(2):237-48.Review. PubMed PMID: 11172821.
[2] 1: Ford WC, North K, Taylor H, Farrow A, Hull MG, Golding J. Increasing paternal age is associated with delayed conception in a large population of fertile couples: evidence for declining fecundity in older men. The ALSPAC Study Team(Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood). Hum Reprod. 2000 Aug;15(8):1703-8. PubMed PMID: 10920089.
[3] Reichman, N. E., & Teitler, J. O. (2006). Paternal age as a risk factor for low birthweight. American Journal of Public Health, 96(5), 862-866.
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