When we talk about fertility, the focus is usually on a woman’s age.
But men’s age also matters.
In women, increasing age is clearly linked to a higher risk of miscarriage. This happens mainly due to chromosomal abnormalities, where egg cells may have extra or missing genetic material (instead of the normal 23 pairs of chromosomes). At the same time, both the number and quality of eggs decrease, making pregnancy more difficult.
In men, the process is different—but equally important.
Sperm are produced continuously throughout life and undergo repeated division—approximately 23 times per year. Over time, this continuous division increases the chance of small genetic errors. Along with this, the body’s ability to repair DNA damage also reduces with age.
Studies have shown that these changes may increase the risk of certain conditions in children, including neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder.
With increasing age, there is also a higher risk of DNA damage in stem cells—the cells that help produce sperm and also form important tissues like muscle, blood, and brain.
Reproductive risks in men generally start increasing after the age of 40. Unlike women—where age 35 is a clear reference point—there is no fixed age cutoff for men, but the risk gradually increases over time.
Interestingly, major chromosomal abnormalities are still relatively rare even in men over 50. However, other genetic changes—both temporary and permanent—can still occur and may affect how genes work.
Aging also affects testicular function. Continuous sperm production, along with changes in the structure of sperm DNA, can reduce sperm quality and may affect the health of the baby.
In today’s world, many couples are choosing to have children later in life.
This makes one thing clear: fertility is not only about a woman’s age—a man’s age also matters.
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