We have always seen the pressure of getting pregnant early comes on women. Most people think that the health of the offspring depends on the women. But guess what girls, studies are now signaling that a man’s age might be equally responsible for the baby.
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According to the recent study conducted by Harvard’s Laura Dodge, Instructor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, pregnancy rates fall when the male partner of the females (below 30) is ten years or older than them by 11 percent.
Although the study cannot decline that a woman’s age doesn’t matter, it still hints strongly at the fact that men have a ticking biological clock as well.
Men can always produce new sperms, but with aging, there is no guarantee that the sperm count won’t get affected. Especially after the age of 40. The body has its way of getting rid of the bad cells, including the inefficient sperms. In science terms, this process is referred to as apoptosis. And usually, with aging, this process might become ineffective.
This could cause the weak sperm go up to the egg of the female, thereby, decreasing the chances of pregnancy, irrespective of the women’s health.
Other man’s aging concerns include changes in the DNA or epigenetics where the surrounding of the sperms could be such that it does not promote the development of healthy sperms in the first place.
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Nowadays people are going beyond the traditional and conventional way of giving birth. Many scientific advances have led couples to go through expensive procedures to bring home their little one.
But if you are paying for such costly processes, then, it's important to know the chances of it becoming a success! Scientists involved in the ‘baby-making’ process are always very selective of the egg but what about sperm. Is patriarchy working in science too?
Don’t think so; therefore the study conducted by Dodge brought to everyone’s attention that the scientists should be selective about the sperm too. It will not only increase the chances of pregnancy but will also be helpful in making the whole pricey project a hit for the couple.
So, it’s important that people understand that age of the man is a key factor to be considered while planning a family.
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Findings also indicate that miscarriage is also brought about when the sperm of the man is not worth it. So, the health of the offspring is highly influenced by the man’s sperm health, which again depends on his age.
Hackensack University embryologist Dave McCulloch, Ph.D., director of laboratory services at University Reproductive Associates in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. says that the changes taking place in the man due to aging are not limited to body chemicals.
These changes have penetrated in the hormones too, with the lowering of testosterone, DHEA, estrogen levels and an increase in FSH and LH hormones. The latter is responsible for the reproductive failure.
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Well, so when it comes to making a baby, where two people are equally involved, the health of both the man and the woman are the equally important factor to be considered.
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