Age As A Factor In Male Infertility

Posted January 16, 2013

Men>45 years of age have more difficulty reproducing. Sperm motility decreases with advancing age and there is a 1.5% increase in serious birth defects with advancing paternal age.

Men> age 50 increase the risk of miscarriage 2 times that of younger men as well as increase the risk of preterm births and increased aneupleudy (unrepaired chromosomal errors). The percentage of sperm DNA fragmentation increases with advancing age.

Schizophrenia is found to be 3 times higher in offspring of those with advancing paternal age>50.

Old paternal age increases single gene mutations; “ the spermatic engine is trying to make sperm but is not able to keep up with the quality control”

It is suspected that 20-30% of Autism is from fathers of older age.

Acute and chronic stress significantly reduces testosterone levels through low FSH and LH. Low testosterone levels reduce sperm maturation and progression.

The placenta is derived primarily from the male contribution

Male infertility has a 3 times increased risk of cancer than the general population. Also male infertility increases the risk of more aggressive prostate cancer.

Omega 3 and 6 can improve male fertility as well as vit D3, L-carnitine 500-1000mgs/day, selenium, zinc, calcium, and vit C

Cancer:

Total body radiation irreversibly damages sperm production worse than does chemotherapy. It is best to preserve your sperm prior to undergoing cancer treatment.

Men with very low numbers of ejaculated sperm:

Men who have blocked vas deferens have much better sperm and significantly better sperm for fertilization that those without obstruction. Men with extremely low sperm concentration have much poorer pregnancy results because their factory is not working well and there are greater number of toxins in the ejaculated sperm than sperm retrieved directly from their testicle.

Chromosomal deletions are rare in sperm from men with sperm concentrations > 5 million.

Tidbits of useful fertility information:

Avoid herbal medications while trying to conceive because of heavy metal contaminants found in many of them.

Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, move directly into the oocyte (egg) and increases oxidative stress.

PCB’s and BPA’s found in plastic bottles in chronic high use:

Reduces pool of oocytes (eggs)
Increases pregnancy loss (miscarriages)
Effects the miotic spindle
Alters the estradiol response
Reduces aromatase
Reduces IVF fertilization rates
Significantly reduces testosterone in men
Reduces sperm and embryo quality

Calcium is necessary for fertilization to occur. Avoid calcium channel blockers (a type of high blood pressure medication) when trying to conceive.

Cholesterol is necessary for hormone development in the woman’s body, fetal membranes, the eye, brain, and for the growth of many other important tissues and organs in a developing fetus. Avoid cholesterol lower agents when trying to conceive and avoid having too low of cholesterol while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.

Substances suspected of improving female egg quality: