The biological clock is not just a word. It does have a major impact on the reproductive health of women and men, both. There is a myth that, male fertility is nothing but just a word created by doctors to bring fear. But, you don’t know the role of age in male fertility that approximately 40-50% of males are experiencing infertility. Also, in infertility cases, 50% have a male factor present.
This article will highlight the crucial points that define the role of age in male fertility and how aging affects sperm.
Role of age in fertility
Men in their late 30s and above tend to experience infertility. This is also the phase, where male menopause or andropause starts to happen. The natural decline in testosterone develops physical, psychological, sexual as well as emotional changes. These are just like menopause. Decreased stamina, strength, loss of muscles and mass, weak bones, hot flashes, etc., happen. Consider as a peak infertility in men.
Additionally, cases of miscarriage and genetic disorders in children happen because of a number of factors, and men’s age is one of them. DNA fragmentations, have a negative impact on embryo development and increase the number of miscarriages. As the age increases, the production of testosterone drops and sperm quality decreases along with the quality.
Impact of age on sperm
- Testosterone level drops- after 30, testosterone levels in men started to drop by 1% every year. Along with that, hypogonadism happens due to the normal aging process, and this hampers their ability to produce the level of hormones. Additionally, issues with the pituitary gland also hamper, in short, there is less control over the testicles.
- Changes in testicles- by age, testicles tend to shrink in size, and this impacts sperm-producing and testosterone-producing cells, leading to reduced quality. It also causes changes in the function of the sperm.
- Spermatogenesis drops down- the process of producing sperm decreases with age, and this happens because of the decreases in testosterone, increased oxidative stress, and changes in the testicular function (like mass, sperm cell production, and less elasticity in the tubes that carry sperm).
- DNA fragmentation- due to exposure to the external environment, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) increases, also known as a free radical. By age, the DNA starts to be packed with chromatin (sperm head), which becomes less efficient and more vulnerable to damage.
- Blood flow in the pelvic area-Here are the factors impacting blood flow in the pelvic area:-
- Vascular health is reduced because of the restricted blood flow.
- Muscles become weak and unable to support pelvic organs.
- Diabetes, obesity, and other chronic conditions happen by age which impairs blood flow in the reproductive organs.
- Consumption of alcohol and tobacco exacerbates the issues and leads to infertility.
- Production of sperm decreased- because the volume and morphology of the sperm reduced, the motility also started to decrease. Several studies indicated that the motility rate decreased by 0.8% every year in men, and with age, the number only increases. Prostates and epididymis, which are involved in the motility and maturation of sperm also decline, increasing the chances of infertility.
- Chronic conditions- heart diseases, hypertension, and diabetes are some of the health conditions that directly impact overall health and cause sexual dysfunction. Chronic conditions can impair the quality of the semen, its volume, sperm count, and motility. While diabetes showed its detrimental impact on seminal plasma ingredients. Almost 35% of men with Type 2 Diabetes experience infertility, and this becomes severe with age.
- Decreased sperm morphology- studies indicated that sperm morphology decreases by 0.2% to 0.9% every year of age, and this resulted in a decrease in sperm morphology to 18% over 20 20-year period. So by the age, this is reduced to such a level their sperm count and its volume result in infertility.
Taking care of issues- Age-related factors
Some tips that can help in overcoming the challenges of infertility because of age-
- Lifestyle-
First, improve your lifestyle. The sooner the improvement, the sooner the results. A healthy diet, staying away from alcohol and tobacco, consuming enough water, and managing vitamins and minerals in your body are some of the ways to enhance sperm’s swimming ability.
Clear cut- it will not directly impact, but improve reduce the oxidative stress from the body, which helps in improving bodily functions.
- Preservation-
For those who are looking forward to extending their family in some of their life but want to focus on themselves, then egg and sperm freezing are the most effective steps to consider. You can freeze your high-quality sperm, which will be used later in life.
- Advance medical options-
IVF (in-vitro fertility), IUI (intrauterine insemination), ART (assisted reproductive technologies), and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) are some of the effective medical interventions that help surpass the challenges related to low sperm count, poor sperm and its motility.
However, it is highly advised to consult with an expert like Parihar IVF to know what exactly will help you.
Conclusion
Age and fertility go hand-in-hand, and it does just not change appearances but also has an impact mentally on them, which increases the risk of issues. However, fertility challenges because of the age factor should not be improved. If you have doubts or questions or want to start a family but don’t know how then Parihar IVF is the one.