Aging Infertility in Men and Women

Fertility, the natural capability of creating life decreases as men and women age though it does not imply that men and women become absolutely sterile. There have been instances where a 90 year old man has been able to father a child by natural means and similarly women well past their middle ages are giving birth to healthy babies. Also with sophisticated medical treatment and a balanced diet older men and women have found it easier to conceive and deliver healthy babies.

Aging males and gene mutation

As men age, in general they experience erectile dysfunction, reduction in the volume, concentration, count and motility of the sperm. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has suggested that the age limit for sperm donors should be under-40 as the quality of sperm decreases with age. However this age limit is not based on scientific evidence as the effect of aging on fertility in men is still not conclusively proved.

Men continue to produce sperm all their life. But the fact remains that aging does affect the quality of the sperm. A research done in 2006 found that low sperm motility was affected by DNA fragmentation which increased with age. Therefore older men were most likely to pass on any mutation in the genes to their progenies. The Aging Male Syndrome is characterized by a number of symptoms like loss of libido, decrease in the levels of the male hormone testosterone, erectile dysfunction, and other physical symptoms like bone loss, hair loss, weight gain, memory problems, muscle loss, low stamina and increased urination.

Older women and fertility

Infertility is more pronounced in women than in men. Fertility in women starts declining even years before menopause sets in. Research on the incidence of pregnancy in various age groups has shown that the rate of infertility is higher in older women. Women are born with all the eggs they will have in a lifetime. As women age, the eggs in the ovaries also age making it more difficult to conceive and increasing the risk of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities. Also older women are more likely to develop age related diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions and gynecological problems like fibroids, endometriosis and menopause. These may result in poor quality of eggs, weight gain and disturbances in the estrogen metabolism. Although these conditions may affect a woman’s ability to conceive, current emerging technologies make it possible for older women to successfully deliver a healthy baby.

Staying healthy by remaining active and following a balanced diet, as well as reducing stress and negativity are still keys to increasing the likelihood of conception, for both men and women. It is important to seek medical advice and treatment for any conditions or problems to increase chances of conception.

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