Men, are your biological clocks ticking? Doctor explains link between age and fertility

We often associate fertility only with women; however, it is a relevant topic for men’s health as well. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Kaberi Banerjee, infertility and IVF expert, founder, Advance Fertility & Gynecology Centre, said, “Infertility in males can be defined as the inability to make a woman conceive after having unprotected intercourse for a year. Unlike women who stop producing eggs after a certain age, men produce sperm throughout their lives, but the quality of sperm deteriorates as they start to age.” Also read | Infertility alert: How your BMI or weight could be blocking your path to parenthood

The infertility expert further explained how age can affect fertility in men:

Sperm quality deteriorates with age:

Aging men also come across infertility problems, as with time the quality of sperm starts deteriorating. Men over 45 tend to have a low sperm count, which can make conception difficult. With that, the motility of sperm decreases. Age also contributes to the reduced percentage of sperm that are active and can move toward the egg.

Hormonal changes:

As men get older, they experience low sperm count, which leads to problems like hormonal changes. The testosterone levels gradually decline, which can directly affect sperm production. As men get older, they also see changes in estrogen and estradiol levels, further leading to libido and even erectile dysfunction. These hormonal changes can directly impact fertility. Also read | Struggling to conceive? This overlooked relationship problem might be to blame for your infertility

Risks of genetic disorder:

With growing age, there are many risk factors that can contribute to pregnancy. There have been cases where the sperm can pass down genetic mutations or conditions like autism, down syndrome, and even schizophrenia. Furthermore, there is a risk of DNA fragmentation, leading to miscarriage or poor embryo development causing congenital abnormalities. It has been noticed that the risk of these conditions increases with aging.

Takes longer to conceive:

In older dads, there has been a repetitive pattern of taking longer to conceive. This happens due to the combination of lower sperm count and low sperm mobility, due to which it often takes longer than expected to conceive. Also read | Reasons behind infertility issues in Indian couples

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.