Do men's elderly childbearing affect their fertility?

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The Influence of Male Elderly Childbearing on Fertility

The age of men has a certain impact on fertility, especially at an advanced age. In the following aspects, the elderly childbearing of men may have an impact on fertility:

1. The sperm quality decreases

As men grow older, their sperm quality may decline. Studies have shown that the number and vitality of male sperm gradually decrease, and the probability of morphological abnormalities and DNA damage increases. These factors will directly affect the fertilization ability of sperm and the quality of embryo development.

In addition, there may be more chromosomal abnormalities in the sperm of elderly men, such as abnormal chromosomes and abnormal numbers. The use of these abnormal sperm may lead to embryonic development stagnation, spontaneous abortion or birth defects and other adverse consequences.

Therefore, the decline of sperm quality is an obvious influencing factor when men give birth at an advanced age.

2. Increased sperm DNA damage rate

The rate of DNA damage in male sperm increases with age. This is due to the exposure of spermatozoa to environmental and exogenous damage factors during the process of spermatogenesis. DNA damage will affect the development and health of embryos after fertilization.

A study found that the rate of DNA fragments in the sperm of elderly men increased significantly, which would reduce the implantation rate of fertilized eggs and the quality of embryonic development. The DNA damage in the sperm from the elderly father is also related to chromosome abnormalities and birth defects.

Therefore, from the perspective of sperm DNA damage rate, the elderly male fertility will have a negative impact on fertility.

3. Changes in reproductive hormone levels

Male reproductive hormone levels also change with age. The study found that with the increase of age, testosterone levels will decline, and gonadotropin secretion will also be affected. These changes in reproductive hormones may lead to problems in spermatogenesis and embryonic development.

A study concluded that the decrease of testosterone level in elderly men would lead to the decrease of sperm number and sperm vitality. Testosterone level is closely related to sperm quantity, vitality and embryo development quality.

Therefore, the elderly male fertility may also have a negative impact on fertility due to changes in reproductive hormone levels.

4. Increased fertility risk

Older men who give birth also increase the risk of pregnant women and fetuses. The study found that the spouse of older men may face higher risk of abortion and pregnancy complications during pregnancy. Children born to older fathers may also face a higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities and birth defects.

A study pointed out that the combination of elderly men and young women, compared with the combination of the same elderly spouse, is likely to lead to embryonic development stagnation and spontaneous abortion. This is because the sperm quality and DNA integrity of the elderly men have a negative impact on embryonic development.

To sum up, the elderly childbearing of men has a significant impact on fertility. The decline of sperm quality, the increase of sperm DNA damage rate, the change of reproductive hormone level and the increase of fertility risk are all problems that men may encounter in their elderly childbearing. Therefore, for men and their spouses who plan to give birth at an advanced age, they should be aware of the impact of fertility, seek help from doctors as soon as possible and carry out necessary assisted reproductive technology.

(Number of words: 613)