Changes of male fertility with age
With the growth of age, male fertility will also change. In discussing the risk of male elderly fertility, the first thing to know is the changing trend of male fertility with age.
At puberty, the male reproductive system begins to mature and fertility begins to appear. Theoretically, men can have children all the time, but the reality is that, with the increase of age, men's fertility will gradually decline.
The decline of fertility is mainly reflected in two aspects: sperm quality and sperm quantity. Sperm quality refers to the indicators of sperm morphology, vitality and DNA integrity; The number of sperm refers to the number of sperm in each ejaculation.
A study found that the quality and quantity of men's sperm began to decline after the age of 30, with an annual decline of about 2%. By the age of 50, the quality and quantity of male sperm have declined by about half. Therefore, the risk of elder male fertility will increase with age.
Genetic risk of male elderly childbearing
The elderly childbearing of men not only has a certain impact on their own health, but also has a potential genetic risk to the health of their offspring.
With the increase of age, new mutations may appear in male sperm. Research shows that children born to older fathers are more likely to suffer from certain genetic diseases, such as congenital heart disease and autism, than their mothers. This is because the process of male spermatogenesis lasts for several months, and there may be more opportunities for mutation in more time.
In addition, the elderly male fertility is also associated with an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities. The study found that the children of older fathers have a higher probability of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. This is due to the abnormal increase of chromosomes in sperm, which causes problems in the early development of fertilized eggs.
Therefore, male elder childbearing not only has its own health risks, but also brings potential genetic risks to the health of offspring.
The Influence of Male Elderly Childbearing and Spouse Health
The elderly childbearing of men not only affects the health of themselves and their offspring, but also affects the health of their spouses to some extent.
The fertility of women begins to decline around the age of 35, and the decline is more obvious after the age of 40. Therefore, if the male gives birth at an advanced age, the age of the spouse may have exceeded the ideal childbearing age, increasing the risk of infertility. In addition, women also face a higher risk of complications during pregnancy when giving birth at an advanced age, such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, etc.
Male elder childbearing may also increase the psychological burden of the spouse during pregnancy. If a man dies after his spouse is pregnant, or his physical health is poor due to his age, he will bring great mental and economic pressure to his spouse.
Therefore, the elderly childbearing of men will also have a certain impact on the health and well-being of their spouses.
Medical support for elderly male childbearing
Although there are certain risks in the elderly childbearing of men, some medical technologies can provide support to reduce the risk of childbearing.
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a commonly used method to treat infertility. ART, including IVF and sperm donation, can improve the success rate of pregnancy. For older men, ART can reduce the risk of some genetic diseases by screening and selecting the best sperm.
In addition, regular physical examination and improvement of living habits can also help men maintain fertility. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as a balanced diet, moderate exercise, smoking cessation and alcohol restriction, can reduce the impact of bad living habits on fertility.
Even so, men's elderly childbearing still needs to be treated with caution. Proper recognition and assessment of fertility risks and consultation and discussion with doctors can help couples make wise decisions.
summary
The risk of male elderly fertility largely depends on the change of male fertility, genetic risk, impact on spouse and available medical support. Male fertility begins to decline after the age of 30, and the genetic risk also increases. Male elder childbearing may also affect spouse's health and happiness. However, through medical technology and a healthy lifestyle, the risk of male elderly childbearing can be reduced to a certain extent. Therefore, couples should take all factors into consideration and be cautious about the decision of male elderly childbearing.
