The Biological Clock Question
The biological clock question is rarely asked and it is assumed that men will remain fertile forever. Hence, the onus of pregnancy always was on women. From time immemorial, women were expected to reproduce as soon as possible and the pressure was accelerated when a woman crossed 30 years. But men were never asked. In couples with no kids, men were not tested and only women were tested and blamed. However, as more number of semen examinations are performed, a greater insight into the effect of biological age on men’s fertility potential is found.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Chetna Jain, Director Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Gurgaon, shared, “New studies believe that male fertility begins to decline between the ages 35 to 45 years. With passing years, the formation of sperms becomes slower and less efficient, meaning counts drop, and there is a rise in genetic abnormalities, miscarriages and stillbirths. It is surprising to find that advanced paternal age at conception can cause diabetes and high blood pressure, preterm births in mother and autism and schizophrenia in the child.”
What should men do?
- Eat healthy
- Exercise regularly, including cardio
- Avoid smoking and drugs
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Avoid steroids – this is the most prominent cause, noted specially in Gym goers
- Control blood pressure
- Avoid heat exposure to genitals by not keeping laptops on laps, using sauna or hot tubs
- Avoid exposure to lead, cadmium, pesticides, and radiation
- Maintain regular sexual activity
Dr Chetna Jain concluded, “When Hollywood stars like Richard Gere become a father at 69 and Robert De Niro becomes a father at 79, as influencers, they send a wrong message to people at large. Bringing up a child at that advanced paternal age does not cause justice to the father, mother, and child. We just know the tip of the iceberg. As more studies look into the father’s age and its effect on fertility, we will get to know more information on paternal age and its detrimental effect on fertility and offspring. Till then encourage men to have kids at a younger age, at least before 45.”
