As women, we can nearly hear the ‘tick tick’ of the hands on our biological clock (i.e. our eggs and fertility). As women, there comes an age, where regardless of how many eggs we started with, we become essentially infertile (menopause).
When we pair life, study, travel, career and finding the right partner into all of that – it’s no wonder we feel pressure to get on with things! There really only is a small gap of time that spans 10 years if we are lucky!
Most women have a finite window of opportunity for reproduction, and it seems a little unfair if you ask me!
Infertility is estimated to impact between 8-12% of reproductive couples worldwide! I think infertility feels like it’s a woman’s struggle, and many people may attribute infertility to female counterpart.
The reality is, it takes 2 to tango!
- 30% of fertility struggles are attributed to male counterparts,
- 30% are attributed to female counterparts,
- 30% is due to a mixture of both male and female counterparts,
- With 10% due to unknown complications, or unexplained infertility.
Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant despite having frequent, unprotected sex for at least 12 months for those under 35, and 6 months for those over 35 years of age. Whilst this can be a really difficult time, there is help available. Fertility specialists, a good GP, and a fertility and reproductive health dietitian can all work together to take steps to make your dreams of a baby come true.
SO – What about the boys? Why do they get off so easy with their long reproductive window?
The average man can pretty much keep up with their sperm production until their dying day, meaning that they don’t feel any really pressure to use those little swimmers, and maybe the risk of infertility isn’t at the forefront of their minds.
Despite this long window of reproductive opportunity, there is a long list of reasons as to why a man’s fertility may be impacted.
Reasons for Reduced Fertility in Males
- Illness, such as:
– Infection in areas of the testes
– Cancer or tumours that affect the pituitary gland
– STI
– Injury to the testicles
– Hormonal imbalances such as low testosterone. - Anatomical problems, such as
– Varicocele—a swelling of the veins that can interfere with sperm production
– Problems related to the release of sperm into the ejaculate - Chromosomal defects that cause abnormal development of the male reproductive organs
- Problems with sexual intercourse, ejaculation or sexual function (e.g. sex drive)
- DNA fragmentation
– DNA within the sperm is abnormal, increasing the chance of miscarriage and decreased chance of pregnancy. - Medications
- Environmental exposures
- Lifestyle factors such as drug use, smoking, and alcohol consumption
- Age
Research in the last 10 – 15 years has shown that volume and quality of semen drops off as men age. Like women, men’s chances of fathering children who may have genetic abnormalities, and genetic mutations that can cause autism, mental health issues and more, increase with age.
An older study published in 2004, found that every additional year of a man’s age, corresponded to an 11% increase in odds that couple would NOT fall pregnant!
So, at what age does this decline occur?
Whilst research shows less of a steep decline for men compared with women, there seems to be consensus that at around 40 – 50 years of age, men’s sperm quality shows a marked decline.
Another study showed that conception during a 12-month period was 30% LESS likely for men over the age of 40, compared with those under 30.
Even though sperm is continually produced, every parameter of sperm quality decreases with age, including:
- Sperm concentration or sperm count (The NUMBER of sperm produced)
- Sperm motility (movement of sperm and how well they swim)
- Sperm morphology (shape of sperm)
Of course, all hope is not lost! Just as egg quality can be improved with nutrition and lifestyle, so too can sperm quality!
The top 6 nutrients to take you on the way to healthy sperm include:
Zinc
A high percentage of zinc losses occur in male ejaculate. Increased zinc intake, via diet or supplementation can improve sperm quality. Zinc foods to include in your diet include oysters, shellfish, meat, poultry, wholegrains and legumes.
Folate
One that’s great for the boys and girls! Appropriate folate intake reduces risk of DNA fragmentation of sperm. Folate is found in leafy green vegetables.
Selenium
One study showed that selenium supplementation to sub-fertile men, results in a marked rise in sperm motility, and sperm volume. Just 2 brazil nuts contain the recommended amount of selenium for improved sperm quality! Other key sources of selenium include tuna, beef, poultry, nuts and seeds.
Antioxidants, specifically Vitamin C & E:
Antioxidants are protective of our body cells, and this is inclusive of sperm health. Vitamin E and C are both nourishing, and could contribute to increased sperm count and motility.
Co-Enzyme Q10
Research has shown that CoQ10 can increase sperm health overall! Foods high in COQ10 include meat, poultry, legumes, wholegrains, nuts and seeds.
Lycopene
A study showed that supplementation with lycopene improved sperm motility and morphology in healthy men. Foods high in lycopene include watermelon, pink grapefruit, pink guava, papaya, dried apricots and pureed rosehips, tomatoes and tomato products.
In conclusion – yes men can go on and reproduce into old age, however the quality of sperm is significantly reduced in multiple parameters with age. This decline happens around a man’s mid 40’s, as seen anecdotally and through research.
Did any of these surprise you? Or do you just have more questions? Book in for a one on one consultation here to improve your fertility.
