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What age are men not fertile anymore?


The age when men are no longer fertile is a common question for those thinking about starting or expanding their family. While women experience a clear decline in fertility at menopause, the answer is less straightforward for men. Male fertility generally declines gradually with age, but men can remain fertile into old age. There is no definitive age when all men become infertile. However, factors like genetics, health, and lifestyle can impact how long men stay fertile.

When Does Male Fertility Decline?

Male fertility starts declining after age 40. This decline speeds up after 50 and becomes quite notable by the 60s and 70s.

Some key points about the fertility decline in men:

– It can begin as early as 35-40 years in some men. Others remain fertile into their 50s and 60s.

– The decline is gradual, not abrupt like menopause in women. Men do not have a clear fertility cutoff age like women.

– Genetics and lifestyle largely determine the rate of fertility decline. Men with healthier lifestyles tend to maintain fertility longer.

– Semen quality declines with age. Volume, motility, and morphology of sperm worsen over time.

– DNA damage in sperm increases with age, raising the risk of birth defects.

So while men do not completely run out of fertility at a certain age, the quantity and quality of sperm diminish over time. This makes conception more difficult and increases pregnancy risks.

What Causes Male Fertility to Decline With Age?

There are various biological and lifestyle factors responsible for the age-related fertility decline in men.

Biological Factors

– Testosterone levels drop about 1% per year after 40. Low testosterone reduces semen quality.

– The hypothalamus and pituitary glands secrete less gonadotropin hormones over time. This affects sperm production.

– Seminiferous tubules in the testes lose function, producing fewer sperm.

– Prostate gland cells accumulate damage, resulting in poorer semen quality.

– Oxidative stress and inflammation increase, harming sperm.

– Telomeres shorten and DNA damage accumulates in sperm.

Lifestyle Factors

– Obesity – Excess fat affects hormones and raises oxidative stress.

– Smoking and alcohol – These damage sperm.

– Chronic conditions like diabetes – They impair sperm production and function.

– Medications – Some prescription drugs lower fertility.

– Radiation or chemical exposure – This damages sperm production.

– Poor diet and inactivity – These negatively impact sperm health.

Key Milestones in Male Fertility Decline

While male fertility declines gradually across the lifespan, experts have identified certain milestones linked to substantially lower fertility:

After 40:

– Semen volume and motility start declining. DNA damage in sperm increases.

– Chance of conception each month drops to around 15-20% from age 20-25 levels of 25%.

– Risk of miscarriage and birth defects rises.

After 50:

– Sperm motility declines more rapidly. Morphology worsens.

– Monthly conception chances fall to 10%.

– Miscarriage rate after conception is 33%, compared to 11% at age 30.

After 60:

– Semen volume can decline up to 50%. Fewer than half of sperm may be motile.

– Monthly conception success rate drops below 5%.

– Miscarriage risks rise exponentially – up to 75% after conception.

So while men can still father children at advanced paternal ages, the odds of conception and a healthy pregnancy decline markedly after 40, especially after 60.

Does Male Fertility Eventually Reach Zero?

There is no definitive age when male fertility reaches zero. While semen quality and conception rates drop vastly by the 70s, some men maintain fertility into old age.

Cases of men fathering children in their 70s and 80s include:

– An Indian man had a child at 96 years old in 2020.

– A 94-year-old Australian man fathered a child in 1992.

– American actor Tony Randall fathered a child at age 77 in 1997.

So while exceedingly rare past 70 years, biological fatherhood is still possible due to a few viable sperm. However, extremely old paternal age confers high risks like congenital disorders and pregnancy complications. Most clinicians advise against attempting conception after 70-75 years due to poor semen quality and high risks.

What Is the Oldest Age Men Can Father a Child?

There are a few known cases of men fathering children in their 90s:

– In 2012, an Indian farmer is documented to have fathered a child at the age of 94.

– In 2003, a 90-year-old Arab Israeli became a father.

– In 1992, a 90-year-old man in England had a child with a 37-year-old wife.

– In 2020, a 96-year-old Indonesian man claimed he fathered a child, though this was not medically verified.

So while fertility is severely diminished, men in their 90s have in exceptional cases been able to conceive. However, the chances of having a healthy child at such an advanced paternal age are very slim. Doctors strongly advise against men in their late 80s and 90s attempting to conceive due to the high possibility of conditions like Down syndrome and miscarriage.

What Are the Chances of Fertility in Older Men?

Here are the approximate monthly chances of conceiving for men at different age milestones:

– Age 20-25: 25%

– Age 35: 20%

– Age 40: 15%

– Age 45: 10%

– Age 50: 5-10%

– Age 55: 3-5%

– Age 60: 1-5%

– Age 70: Less than 1%

– Age 80: Much less than 1%

As discussed, while sperm viability drops drastically after mid-life, some fertility remains possible into the 70s and 80s in exceptional cases. However, monthly conception success rates dwindle to less than 1% for the average man in his 70s. Natural pregnancies are very unlikely at ages beyond 75-80 years for most men.

What Factors Might Extend Fertility in Older Men?

While male fertility invariably declines with age, some factors may slow down the decline and prolong fertility:

– **Robust fertility at a younger age** – Men with high sperm counts and excellent motility in their 20s and 30s stay fertile longer.

– **Good genetics** – Gene variants linked to later fertility decline exist. Long-lived ancestors also indicate better genes.

– **Healthy lifestyles** – Lean BMI, no smoking, lower alcohol intake, physical activity, and stress management help maintain fertility.

– **Balanced hormones** – Optimal testosterone, estrogen, FSH and other hormones preserve sperm quality longer.

– **No chronic illnesses** – Conditions like diabetes hasten fertility loss. Being disease-free helps.

– **Quality nutrition** – Diets rich in antioxidants and nutrients counteract sperm damage from aging.

– **Frequent ejaculation** – Having sex or masturbating regularly keeps sperm production active.

So while declines are inevitable, men can potentially prolong fertility into the 50s, 60s or later through key lifestyle factors and good genetics.

Can Older Men Improve Their Fertility?

While age-related fertility decline cannot be eliminated in men, certain strategies may help enhance their remaining fertility potential:

– **Have sex frequently** – Frequent ejaculation keeps sperm fresh and fertile.

– **Take antioxidants** – Vitamins C, E and D, zinc, selenium, and lycopene protect sperm.

– **Exercise and stay lean** – Lose weight if overweight. Get sufficient physical activity.

– **Limit toxins** – Avoid heat, smoking, heavy drinking, chemicals, and radiation exposure.

– **Reduce stress** – Practice meditation, yoga, or mindfulness to lower stress.

– **Get tested** – Do a semen analysis to catch issues early.

– **See a doctor** – They can prescribe supplements, medications, or lifestyle changes to support fertility.

– **Try IVF with ICSI** – Using in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection can aid conception with only a few viable sperm.

So while not a cure-all, healthy habits, supplements, and medical help can potentially prolong fertility during the later reproductive years.

At What Age Is IVF or Donor Sperm Needed for Men?

IVF using a man’s sperm may be utilized starting in a patient’s early 40s in cases of:

– Unexplained infertility despite normal semen analysis.

– Multiple failed attempts at intrauterine insemination.

– Recurrent miscarriages indicating probable egg quality issues.

– A female partner over 35 years where egg quality decline is the likely culprit.

IVF with ICSI can be attempted with a man’s sperm until around 70-75 years. However, success rates are lower and miscarriage risks higher after 45 years.

Donor sperm is often suggested when the male partner is:

– Over 45-50 years with very poor semen parameters like low count and motility.

– Over 60-65 years even with decent semen analysis results, owing to high DNA damage risks in their sperm.

– Has a genetic disorder he does not want passing on.

If financially feasible, donor sperm can offer high chances of conception and a healthy child when the male partner’s sperm is unlikely to succeed.

Options for Older Men to Have Children

Men have a few options to become biological fathers later in life:

– **Conceive naturally** – Can keep trying naturally into their 60s, though odds of conception and miscarriage risks rise.

– **Try IVF with their sperm** – IVF via ICSI can assist if low sperm count or motility is the sole issue.

– **Use donor sperm** – Donor sperm combined with the female partner’s egg offers high success rates after mid-40s.

– **Have embryos frozen earlier** – Couples can freeze embryos through IVF in their 30s-40s for later use.

– **Donor embryo** – Embryos donated from another couple can be transferred regardless of male partner’s age.

So while chances decline after 40, having children in the 50s and 60s is quite possible through natural conception, IVF with a man’s sperm, or donor gametes. Thorough assessment with a fertility specialist is important to choose suitable options per the couple’s age and fertility status.

Effects of Advanced Paternal Age on Children

Children born to older fathers face higher risks of certain conditions compared to younger fathers:

– **Miscarriage** – Risk rises from 12% at age 35 to 53% by age 45.

– **Preterm birth** – 1.5X higher when fathers are over 45 versus under 25 years.

– **Low birth weight** – Twice as likely with fathers over 45 compared to those under 25.

– **Birth defects** – Risks of congenital heart disease, cleft palate, water on the brain, and clubfoot are about 50% higher when fathers are over 50 versus under 25.

– **Autism** – Children born to men over 50 have a 66% higher risk of autism versus those with fathers under 30.

– **Schizophrenia** – Children born to men over 50 have a 2X higher schizophrenia risk compared to fathers under 25 years.

– **Childhood cancer** – Leukemia risks were highest when fathers were aged 35-44.

While many older fathers have children with no issues, the odds of certain disorders do increase significantly. Genetic screening of embryos can sometimes detect major inherited conditions prior to pregnancy.

Conclusion

In summary, male fertility declines steadily from 35-40 years. Conception chances drop markedly for most men by their 60s. However, men can remain fertile into old age owing to some sperm maintaining function. The maximum age of fertility is late 80s or 90s in exceptional cases. Staying healthy with good lifestyle habits may prolong fertility by a few years. After 45, sperm quality often necessitates IVF or donor sperm for conception. While biological fatherhood is feasible into a man’s late years, risks to children rise with paternal age over 50. Understanding the decline in male fertility with age helps couples make informed choices about timing for having children.