Study Finds Conception Less Likely With Older Fathers

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Study Finds Conception Less Likely With Older Fathers

Researchers have found that younger fathers produce healthier, more viable sperm. It takes both a healthy sperm and a healthy egg to have a successful pregnancy.

AGE & FERTILITY: It is well-known that women have a harder time getting pregnant and face a higher risk of miscarriage as they age. A new study shows men 35 or older also face problems becoming parents.

by Patricia McFadden
Informify Staff Writer
July 8, 2008

French researchers conducted a study of over 12,000 couples undergoing fertility treatments. They found that conception is somewhat more difficult when the father is over 35 and significantly more difficult when he is over 40. The percentage of miscarriages also increased dramatically among women with older partners.

Miscarriages Double When Father Over 40

Researchers at France's Eylau Centre for Assisted Reproduction examined the results of 21,239 cases of intrauterine inseminations (IUI) in more than 12,000 couples. Their findings showed that maternal and paternal age had a significant effect on the outcome:

Age and pregnancy rates:

Women under 35	14.5%
Women over 35	8.9%
Men under 35	12.3%
Men over 40	9.3%

Age and miscarriages:

Men under 35	13.7%
Men over 40	32.4%

Reproductive Aging Affects Men Too

Dr Allan Pacey, a fertility expert at Sheffield University and secretary of the British Fertility Society, said the Eylau study "reinforces the message that men aren't excused from reproductive ageing."

"Previous studies of couples trying to conceive naturally or undergoing IVF [in vitro fertilization] have shown that men over the age of about 40 are less fertile than younger men," Pacey added. (BBC News, 7/06/08)

The Eylau researchers suggest that as men age there is increased DNA damage in their sperm, making fertilization more difficult and miscarriage-causing defects more likely.

Couples May Want to Consider Other Fertility Treatments

Dr Stephanie Belloc, who led the Eylau study, points out that the findings have "important implications for couples wanting to start a family."

Belloc suggests that couples for whom the father's age is a factor might want to consider other options besides IUI to help them achieve pregnancy (see below).

"These methods, although not in themselves a guarantee of success, may help couples where the man is older to achieve a pregnancy more quickly," she said, "and also reduce the risk of miscarriage." (BBC News, 7/06/08)

Three Infertility Treatments

Fertility specialists may recommend one of three treatments to couples with fertility problems:

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)—A male donates sperm to be "washed" in a centrifuge to separate the seminal fluid and inserted into the uterus when the female is ovulating.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)—An egg removed from the ovaries is fertilized in a test tube, then implanted in a woman's uterus.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)—This variant of IVF includes finding one healthy sperm—directly from the testicles if necessary—and injecting it directly into the egg.

Question for Readers:

Do you know anyone who has had infertility treatments? What was the outcome?

IUI involves retrieving sperm, washing it and inserting into the uterus. Successful fertilization depends on the following:

Timing for the egg—An egg is viable for 24 hours after leaving the ovary.
Timing for the sperm—Washed sperm live 6 to 12 hours (untreated sperm can live in a woman's cervical mucus for as long as 5 days). Timing is crucial.
Ovulation—Pinpointing the moment of ovulation is imprecise, so some specialists recommend a follow-up insemination 12 to 48 hours after the first. Doctors also suggest that increasing sexual activity between inseminations helps boost the odds of success.
Sperm Count—A low sperm count means success is less likely, but there is little difference in success rates between good-average sperm counts and high sperm counts.
Medication—Fertility drugs that increase the number of eggs released each cycle can increase the odds of success.
Patience—Success rates for IUI treatments are between 15% and 20% per cycle. A couple may need time and a lot of patience to conceive.