While much attention is given to a woman’s biological clock, the impact of age and lifestyle on male fertility is often overlooked. Celebrities like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro may be praised for fathering children in their 70s and 80s, but such cases are exceptional. If you are a man who has been waiting to start a family, it’s important to understand how age and lifestyle can affect your fertility.
The Role of Both Partners in Fertility
If you and your partner have been attempting to get pregnant for over a year without success, it is important to consider both partners in the equation. Often, the focus is on testing the female partner first, but if no issues are identified with her, it’s time to explore the male factor.
Understanding the root cause of infertility is critical for determining the right path forward.
How Age Impacts Male Fertility
While women’s fertility tends to decline after age 40, the impact of age on men’s fertility is less commonly discussed. However, research has shown that age does affect male fertility in significant ways.
Studies have found that the volume of semen, sperm count, and sperm motility all decrease with age. Specifically, one large study of nearly 6,000 men between the ages of 16.5 and 72.3 revealed the following trends:
- The number of motile sperm and overall sperm count declines after a man turned 34
- The number of sperm with typical morphology (size, shape, and structure) and concentration decreases after age 40.
- Sperm motility starts to decrease after age 43.
- The volume of ejaculate decreases after age 45.
This research underscores that fertility in men begins to decline around age 34, often due to factors like abnormal sperm production, sperm delivery blockages, or reduced sperm count.
In the U.S., about 15% of couples face difficulties with conception, and in over 50% of cases, male infertility is a contributing factor.
Other Causes Leading to Infertility In Men
In addition to age impacting male fertility, other factors are involved.
Medical Conditions
Several medical conditions can affect fertility, such as hormone imbalances, testicular injury, prior surgeries (e.g., hernia repairs), sperm delivery blockages, undescended testes, and the use of testosterone or steroids.
Lifestyle Habits
Certain lifestyle habits can have a direct impact on sperm quality. To improve fertility, consider the following:
- Avoid smoking: Smoking negatively affects sperm quality and motility.
- Limit alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol intake can lower testosterone levels and lead to erectile dysfunction.
- Reduce heat exposure: Heat can be harmful to sperm count. Avoid hot tubs, saunas, and placing laptops on your lap for extended periods.
- Avoid recreational drugs: These can impair sperm quality and fertility.
- Manage stress: Chronic stress can have a negative impact on fertility.
- Maintain a healthy diet: Diets high in fat may lower sperm count.
Adopt Healthy Lifestyle Practices
Make positive changes to your lifestyle to improve sperm count and fertility. Maintain a healthy weight, consume a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and prevent sexually transmitted infections.
Talk to Core Functional Medicine about your medications and supplements and if they may be contributing to infertility.
Male Infertility Testing and Treatment in Texas
If you are struggling with fertility issues, contact Core Functional Medicine for testing, identifying the issue, and treatments. Request an appointment through our secure online form today to get started.
Sources:
Male Infertility > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine
