Male Fertility Over 40: Challenges, Risks, and Treatment Options

Infertility is as common as it is for both men and women. Male fertility declines with age, not like women, but it generally becomes more pronounced after the age of 40. While sitting at the table and talking about infertility, the entire conversation is only revolves around women. However, men’s infertility has always been overlooked, which dynamically gets impaired after 40 due to a set of surprises, changes, and challenges. The cause of infertility not only lies on the shoulders of women, as it is also due to men. With the natural process of ageing, men may experience a decline in sperm quality, including reduced motility and increased DNA fragmentation.

As per the research, when we talk about conception, it is 30% less likely for men over 40 as compared to men under 30. 

Infertility affects 186 million people worldwide, and the male partner is the cause in about half of the cases. Some studies show that male infertility affects about 10% to 15% of males in the United States who are trying to conceive.

This article explores the challenges, risks, and treatment options for male fertility over 40.

Challenges of Male Fertility Over 40

Most of the parameters that actively contribute to male fertility are affected by their increasing age, such as

• Sperm Motility: It is the ability of sperm to move effectively towards the egg, which declines around 0.8% every year after the age of 20. Moreover, it is significantly reduced by the age of 40. The reduction in motility also hampers sperm’s fertilization capability.

• Sperm Morphology: With increasing age, the shape and size of the sperm also deteriorate, leading to a decrease of 0.2 to 0.9% per year. Abnormal sperm morphology leads to to reduction in the chances of successful fertilization.

• Semen Volume: There may be a slight reduction in the volume of semen that has been ejaculated, especially after the age of 45, which impacts sperm delivery.

• Sexual Function: Erectly dysfunction and decreased sexual activity also become very common with age, and opportunities for conception also get reduced. 

Physiological changes in reproductive organs, such as testicular function decline, prostate enlargement, and narrowing of sperm transport tubes, also contribute to fertility challenges.

Risks Associated with Advanced Paternal Age

With the reduction in fertility, older paternal age also carries risks for offspring, which include increased DNA damage in sperm cells, which is known as sperm DNA fragmentation. Advanced paternal age is associated with chromosomal abnormalities and mutations, which increase the risks of congenital disorders, miscarriages, and developmental conditions in children. 

Moreover, with growing age, older people are more prone or susceptible to health conditions like hormonal imbalances, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, which affect fertility. Thus making it a more risky situation.

Treatment and Management Options

As we already read that male fertility declines with age, men over 40 can still father children with appropriate interventions taken up.

• Semen Analysis: Semen testing is recommended for evaluating sperm concentration, morphology, motility, and DNA integrity. It helps you in identifying the specific tissue so that treatment can be tailored accordingly.

• Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART):  various ART procedures, such as IVF and IUI, also help in increasing the chances of conception even with lower quality of sperm.

• Microsurgery: Surgical repair of blocked or damaged sperm transport pathways can restore fertility in some cases.

• Sperm Freezing: Fertility can also be preserved if you choose to bank your sperm at a younger age.

• Hormonal Treatments: Testosterone therapy and medications to improve erectile dysfunction or hormonal imbalances can enhance fertility.

• Lifestyle Changes: focus on improving diet, exercising, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol, and managing stress to support overall reproductive health.

Conclusion

Male fertility declines with age, becoming more significant after 40 due to declines in sperm motility, morphology, and sexual function. Advanced paternal age also carries risks for offspring. However, fertility testing, assisted reproductive technologies, medical treatments, and healthy lifestyle modifications offer viable pathways for men over 40 to father healthy children. Aveya IVF centre assists you at every step of your fertility journey.

This nuanced understanding encourages men approaching or over 40 to seek fertility assessments early, optimize health, and explore available fertility treatments to support their family-building goals.

If you are struggling with infertility and still getting no results. Contact Aveya IVF centre today to get the best outcome you wish for.

Your wishes, our command!!