What Age Does Male Fertility Decline?
Written by Ben Bunting: BA(Hons), PGCert.
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There's no concrete data to answer the question, "At what age does male fertility decline?" But there are several signs that might indicate the end of a fertile phase. The CDC provides birth rate statistics and doesn't provide individual health status data on men. The most live births are among men in their twenties and thirties, and it is possible that a man's fertility peak coincides with this period.
Semen quality
There are several factors that contribute to the slow decline in male fertility as men get older. In men, a biological clock is regulated and it runs down slowly as you get older. The quality of sperm decreases with age and studies have shown this is true. One study showed that sperm quality declined by 20% in men over age 50, while other studies have shown similar trends. If you are wondering when male fertility begins to decline, here are some reasons to watch your age:
The quantity and quality of sperm decreases as men get older. This decrease affects the chances of conception and pregnancy. Men who are older are at a slightly increased risk of miscarriage and fathering children with genetic disorders. However, if your age is not too far off, the chance of conceiving is still pretty high. So, what should you do? Follow these tips for maintaining good sperm health as you get older.
Sperm motility
As men age, sperm quality decreases. The head may be smaller than normal, the mid-section thicker, or the tail short. Several factors may influence sperm motility. Here is how to assess your sperm quality. The goal is to improve sperm motility as much as possible. At what age does male fertility begin to decline? What causes this decline?
The number of Y-bearing sperm is significantly lower in the ejaculate after age 44, and the chance of conceiving decreases as men get older. The exact causes of the age-related decline in male fertility are still not known. However, several factors may play a role, including smoking, reduced tissue repair, and age-related changes to the reproductive system.
Sperm count
The debate over sperm count at what age does male fertility decline is likely to be contentious until improved study designs can be implemented. While sperm counts are not necessarily a direct indicator of male fertility, it does appear to be declining in many countries. In fact, a recent meta-analysis found that sperm counts dropped by nearly 60 percent globally since 1973. Researchers examined nearly 7,500 studies on sperm counts, and culled out those that did not meet their standard. However, they still managed to find 185 studies on almost 43,000 men, which was sufficient to draw conclusions.
➡️READ: Natural treatments for male infertility
The World Health Organization sets a range for "normal" sperm count for men in their 20s and 50s. Men produce between two and five milliliters of semen each time they ejaculate, and men's sperm count decreases from 107 million per milliliter in their 20s to three and a half million by the time they reach their fifties.
Men's reproductive tract
The male reproductive tract produces millions of sperm every day, but as men get older, the quality of these sperm begins to decrease. As a result, men over 40 have fewer healthy sperm and their chances of conceiving decrease. The older a man gets, the less motile his sperm are and the higher his risk of miscarriage. The study found that men over 40 are more likely to have a miscarriage if they try to conceive.
In a recent review, Dr. Hagai Levine, an epidemiologist at the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health, and Dr. Swan of Yale School of Public Health, noted that the decline of male fertility is a 'canary in the coal mine' of deteriorating male reproductive health around the world. As a result, the authors of the review say the alarm bells are sounding and that more needs to be done to address this problem.
In-vitro fertilization
There is no specific age at which a man's fertility will begin to decline, but the onset of male infertility is usually around age 35. The quality of sperm decreases with age, which in turn reduces a man's chances of conception time. Additionally, older men are more likely to experience miscarriage and fetal death during pregnancy. In addition, children of older fathers have increased risk of developing mental health issues. They are five times more likely to develop autism and have a slightly higher risk of developing schizophrenia.
Though men continue to produce sperm throughout their lives, age-related male infertility affects them differently. Although age itself does not affect male fertility, other factors also have an impact on pregnancy and conception. Older men have increased chances of miscarriage, which may be the result of genetic abnormalities in sperm. As a result, older men may want to consider assisted reproduction procedures to achieve a pregnancy.
