It is widely known that the age of a woman negatively affects her fertility. Delayed maternal age is also associated with the advancing paternal age as well, though it goes much more unnoticed.
In the case of males, the ideal biological age for creating a family is before 40. This does not mean that men over that age are incapable of becoming fathers because, in fact, many of them achieved this goal. After all, spermatozoid production continues. The increasing paternal age relates to a significant loss in several spermatic features such as volume, count, motility, morphology and even viability. Apart from the alterations in sperm quality, sperm DNA fragmentation grows.
It was shown that the advanced male’s age leads to lower numbers of embryos in assisted reproduction treatments and increased rates of miscarriages even when donor eggs are used.
We must also take into account men’s lifestyle. The accumulated effect of tobacco, alcohol and drugs, obesity and other diseases and medicines necessary to treat the latter can influence the epigenetics of the DNA of spermatozoids. This genomic instability could explain the deteriorating clinical results in assisted reproduction techniques among such patients.
The antioxidative capacity drops while ageing and reactive oxygen species multiply producing oxidative stress and harming the DNA. These factors can cause apoptosis – death of sperm – in the testicles.
For that reason, a visit to the doctor is vital to figure out the analyses necessary before beginning an assisted reproduction treatment. Depending on the male’s age, lifestyle, sperm quality and other antecedents, a specific deeper study of his sperm may become useful: genetic testing of spermatozoids through FISH (Fluorescence in situ hybridisation) and double-strand sperm DNA fragmentation.
Get more information or solve your doubts in the first consultation by emailing us at ivf@centromedicomanzanera.com or by filling in the contact form which you will find on our webpage: https://centromedicomanzanera.com/en/formulario-en/
María Pombar Gómez
Embryologist
IMAGE: https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/lavozdelasalud/tribu/2023/07/12/edad-puede-padre-riesgo-aumenta-partir-40/00031689160088723145771.htm
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