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In fact, the biological clocks of men and women are very different. Most women know that by menopause, their eggs have decreased in quantity and quality, and age plays a huge factor in fertility. In contrast, a man produces sperm throughout his life. It is noted that between the ages of 30 and 50 years old, there is a slight decline in fertility (including a decrease in sperm motility by 37%, abnormal sperm concentration increased by about 5 times/ abnormal sperm shape and semen volume also decreased by about 30%), but the quality of the man's semen did not decrease. In this article, we will provide useful information about biological clock differences in the sexes.
There is no age limit on giving birth, but due to the above changes, it may take longer to get pregnant with older men. For women age 35 and older, those with a male partner aged 45 or older took five times longer to conceive than those with a male partner aged 25 or younger. For women 25 and younger who had children with men 45 and older, it took four times as long to conceive – in other words, a man's age is an independent factor of a woman's age.
1. Similarities
As women get older, the body decreases the production of the female hormone estrogen, decreases fertility, and the risk is high that during pregnancy, their baby will have genetic problems such as Down syndrome. , congenital heart defects , respiratory diseases ..... And as men get older, they notice a decrease in the male hormone testosterone, a decrease in fertility, and are more likely to have children. from older fathers, compared with children born to fathers 20-24 years old, the risk of developing schizophrenia is 2 times higher, the risk of autism is 3 times higher, the risk of 13 times more likely to have attention deficit disorder.
In females, the quantity and quality of eggs decreases as their age increases. Likewise, although men's sperm production is daily, as they age, their sperm volume, motility (speed) and quality decline.
A few years ago, the journal Fertility & Sterility published one of the largest reviews of male fertility to date. The authors found that between the ages of 30 and 50, the average man's sperm lost up to 30 percent in volume, swam up to 37 percent slower, and was five times more likely to be deformed. The shape of the sperm is also important as it correlates with the genetic content of the sperm. A higher number of malformed sperm means a higher chance of having genetic abnormalities.
2. Differences
Women are born with a specific number of eggs, and since they are not replenished, their genetic makeup does not change over time. In contrast, in men, new sperm are produced daily, which means their DNA is copied away, copied over.
The amount of eggs in a woman's body will gradually lose with each menstrual cycle, and the quality of eggs will also decrease as their age increases and the abnormal egg concentration is higher and higher. As for a man, sperm is produced throughout his life, even with a slight decline in fertility, but his semen still does not lose its concentration. “As men age, their testosterone levels drop — but the change is much less than the loss of estrogen by men,” says Mark Leondires, fertility specialist and medical director of the Connecticut Society of Reproductive Medicine. women. By the age of 45, 99% of women are infertile while most men are still fertile at 60 or older”
So for men there is no age limit for having children and that's perfect. Quite the opposite for women, age plays a very important role in the ability to get pregnant.
3. Are genetic problems linked to older men?
Some genetic abnormalities have long been associated with a man's age, but most of them are of little concern due to their relative rarity. In recent years, clinical trials have found a link between paternal age and common genetic conditions such as Down syndrome and schizophrenia.
In general, the most worrisome health problems of newborns are related to the age of the parents, especially after the age of 35. Meanwhile, the past two decades have seen a rapid increase in couples having children after the age of 35. In recently published studies, the proportion of children born with Down syndrome doubles in women aged 35-39 if their partner is also over 35. Age risk factors aren't really a problem for mothers aged 35 or younger because the ovaries have a built-in mechanism capable of repairing damaged genetic material provided by sperm. . This mechanism only really has problems when they pass the age of 35.
4. Can older men donate sperm?
There is ample evidence that the sperm of older men have more genetic abnormalities. Even for this reason, some European countries have banned men from donating sperm after they reach a certain age. However, in some other countries, as long as the man's sperm is sufficient in both quantity and quality, they still have the right to donate sperm.According to statistics, only 5% of men who apply for a sperm donation are accepted because there are too many strict rules in this regard. For example, if they have a tattoo or have their ears pierced, they can be completely disqualified because they have been exposed to hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
5. Does weight affect male fertility?
In fact, one of the best ways a man can maintain his fertility is to stay at a healthy weight. Obesity may be a factor in male infertility. In addition, each man's waist size is inversely proportional to his or her own testosterone levels since belly fat is the fastest at destroying testosterone.
Also overweight men are often associated with sedentary and other health problems. For example, a large waistline is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which can reduce blood flow to all parts of the body in general and to the penis in particular, which is harmful to a woman's fertility. surname.
However, you should set a reasonable weight. Men who are too thin will also face low testosterone levels because the body is not provided with enough nutrients and has to go into survival mode thereby producing less sex hormones.
6. What can men do to get their biological clock back?
The great thing about men's biological clock is that it can be returned to normal. Losing weight and treating infections can be ways to get your circadian rhythm back. If a couple is having trouble getting pregnant, the most important thing is for the man to see a specialist.
When it comes to infertility, about 40% of the causes come from the man's side, 40% of the causes come from the woman, and 20% of the cases have two-sided or unclear causes. But male infertility is often easier to diagnose and fix than female infertility, so it's always worth starting on the man's side.
One of the most common causes of male infertility is an infection in certain parts of the reproductive system, such as the prostate gland. Many infections that go undetected early can silently kill sperm. The next most common causes of male infertility are vasectomy and dilation of the scrotal or scrotal veins. It is important that all of the above causes are treatable.
If a couple intends to have children, they need to monitor their own and their partner's biological clocks. Age plays an important role in fertility in both sexes. Therefore, in addition to considering the age of the wife, the age of the husband is also very important. Men's sperm quantity and quality also tend to decrease with age, and problems related to the male reproductive system can also be a factor in preventing childbirth.
Vinmec International General Hospital with modern facilities, leading investment equipment in Vietnam and a team of experienced experts is implementing the Pre-pregnancy health care and counseling program.
Most Vietnamese women today are only concerned with their health and the baby after pregnancy, while preparing for pregnancy is much more important. The counseling and health check for pregnancy preparation for couples who are planning to become pregnant, for parents who have been pregnant or have had children with birth defects or problems related to pregnancy. Chronic diseases, obstetric and gynecological diseases, ... are very important and necessary to minimize the risks that may occur in the next pregnancy.
Besides genetic screening before pregnancy and genetic screening during pregnancy, Vinmec's Pre-Pregnancy Care and Counseling Program also screens for many other factors, such as pre-implantation testing (PGT). ), screening for diseases such as vaginal infections, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc. to prepare well for pregnancy, increase the likelihood of having a healthy baby and minimize risks during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum.
For more information, please contact the hospitals and clinics of Vinmec Health system nationwide
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
Reference source: babycenter.com