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What age are men infertile?

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. For men, age affects fertility potential and the probability of conception. Infertility rates increase steadily after age 35, with more significant declines after age 40.

When does male fertility start to decline?

Male fertility generally begins to decline after age 35, with more significant reductions after 40. Some key points on how age impacts male fertility include:

  • Up to age 35, most men have stable, optimal fertility.
  • After 35, fertility slowly declines. Around 12% of men over 35 have some fertility difficulties.
  • After 40, fertility declines more rapidly. About 30% of men over 40 have lowered fertility.
  • After 45, about 35-50% of men experience fertility problems due to low sperm counts, lower sperm motility, or abnormal sperm shape and size.
  • After 50, fertility continues to decline. 60% of men are infertile by age 60.

The reduction in male fertility with age is due to both declines in sperm quality and quantity as well as hormonal changes.

What causes fertility to decline with age?

There are several reasons male fertility declines with advancing age:

  • Lower sperm production – After age 40, the testes produce less testosterone and sperm. Sperm counts can be reduced by up to 50% by age 50.
  • DNA damage – Sperm DNA damage increases with age, which reduces the number of viable, functioning sperm.
  • Motility reduction – Older men have a higher percentage of slow-moving or immotile sperm, making it harder for sperm to reach the egg.
  • Morphology changes – Abnormal sperm shape and size increase with age, also reducing fertility potential.
  • Hormone changes – Levels of reproductive hormones like testosterone and DHEA decrease over time.
  • Other factors – Medical conditions, medications, lifestyle factors like smoking and obesity also influence fertility.

How does age affect male fertility potential?

Here is an overview of how male fertility potential is impacted at different age ranges:

  • 20s and early 30s – Peak fertility years when most men can conceive easily.
  • Mid to late 30s – Fertility starts declining but most men still conceive successfully.
  • 40s – Fertility is dropping more rapidly. Issues like conception delays and miscarriages are more common.
  • 50s and beyond – Significant fertility declines, high rates of infertility. Assisted reproductive techniques may be needed.

However, men can still remain fertile into their 50s, 60s, and beyond. Healthy lifestyle habits help maintain fertility with age.

What is the oldest age men can conceive a child?

There are documented cases of men fathering children even into their 70s and 80s, but this is extremely rare. Some records include:

  • The oldest documented father was an Indian man who fathered a child at age 96 years old.
  • The oldest verified father in the UK conceived at age 92 years old.
  • An American man fathered a child at age 80 years old using donor egg IVF.
  • Actor Mick Jagger had a child at age 73 with his 29-year-old girlfriend.

However, most men over 50 will have difficulty conceiving naturally. The oldest verified natural conception was a 94-year-old man in Australia whose 59-year-old wife conceived.

What are the risks of delaying fatherhood?

Delaying fatherhood later into the 30s, 40s or beyond increases certain risks, including:

  • Reduced fertility – Lower sperm quality makes natural conception more difficult.
  • Miscarriage – Higher miscarriage rates due to genetic abnormalities.
  • Birth defects – Increased risks of some disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
  • Multiple births – Higher odds of twins or triplets, especially with IVF.
  • Labor complications – More risks for mother and baby during delivery.
  • Shorter lifespan – Children may have fewer years with their father.

Men over 50 also have higher chances of conceiving children with mental and physical disabilities. Discussing risks beforehand with a doctor is recommended.

What factors influence male fertility with age?

Age is not the only factor affecting male fertility – general health and lifestyle habits also play key roles. Some influences include:

  • Existing health conditions – Issues like diabetes, obesity, and prostate disorders impact sperm.
  • Medications – Testosterone, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, and others reduce fertility.
  • Tobacco and alcohol – Smoking and heavy drinking lower sperm counts.
  • Stress and diet – Managing stress, eating well, and staying active aids fertility.
  • Exposure to toxins – Environmental toxin exposure harms sperm production.
  • Frequency of intercourse – Infrequent intercourse lowers sperm quality.

Maintaining healthy habits helps partially mitigate normal fertility declines.

What are normal sperm counts by age?

Here are typical average sperm counts by age range:

Age Range Normal Sperm Count Range
20-24 years 120-350 million per mL
30-35 years 115-300 million per mL
Over 40 90-200 million per mL
Over 50 50-120 million per mL
Over 60 10-50 million per mL

Any count over 15 million sperm per mL is considered normal. But optimal fertility occurs with higher concentrations, motility, and morphology.

Motility and morphology by age

Sperm motility and shape also decline with age:

Parameter Age 20-25 Age >40
Normal morphology 15% or more 7% or less
Progressive motility 50% or more 35% or less

What are the symptoms of age-related infertility?

Signs a man may be experiencing fertility challenges due to age include:

  • Difficulty conceiving after regular, unprotected sex for over 12 months.
  • Need for IVF or other reproductive treatments to achieve pregnancy.
  • Miscarriages of unknown cause.
  • Declining sexual function – issues like erectile dysfunction.
  • Hormonal changes – low testosterone or high FSH.
  • Poor semen analysis results – low counts, motility.

However, many older men can still have normal sexual function and impregnate partners despite reduced fertility rates overall for their age group.

What are the options for treating age-related infertility?

Treatment options for age-related male infertility may include:

  • Fertility drugs – Clomiphene or hCG to boost testosterone.
  • Antioxidants – Supplements like vitamin E and C to improve sperm.
  • Hormone therapy – Testosterone or gonadotropins to increase sperm.
  • Surgery – To correct issues like varicocele veins.
  • Assisted reproduction – IUI, IVF, or ICSI procedures.

Using younger sperm samples, like from sperm banks, may also help overcome poor quality sperm due to age.

What are tips for maintaining fertility with age?

Some tips men can consider to help preserve fertility as they age include:

  • Having regular sexual activity – at least 2-3 times per week.
  • Limiting tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
  • Maintaining a healthy body weight.
  • Eating a nutritious diet high in antioxidants.
  • Staying active through regular exercise.
  • Reducing stress.
  • Taking supplements like vitamin C, D, zinc and CoQ10.
  • Getting checked and treated for any medical conditions.
  • Avoiding prolonged exposure to environmental toxins.

Healthy lifestyle choices allow men to maximize their natural fertility potential as they grow older.

Conclusion

While male fertility declines naturally with age, men can still remain fertile into their senior years with healthy habits. The most significant reductions in fertility occur after 40, with gradual declines after 35. By their 50s, many men need assisted reproduction to successfully conceive. Though risks increase with paternal age, men in their 50s, 60s, and older can still father children in some circumstances. Maintaining wellness helps counteract some deterioration in sperm characteristics over time. For men hoping to have kids later in life, taking steps to safeguard fertility is key.