Many people think that while a woman’s fertility starts to decline in her 30s and 40s, men can continue to conceive children naturally in their 70s and 80s. However, while sperm production continues throughout a man’s life, the quality and concentration of the sperm may start to decline. In this article, we will look at the changes that occur in male fertility with increasing age, and explain how you can check and track your own fertility at home.
Fatherhood in Your 50s and Beyond
It is generally accepted that a woman’s fertile years will end at an earlier age than a man’s. Women who want to conceive in their late 40s or early 50s may need the help of a fertility clinic, and some women will become mothers at this age by going down the surrogacy route.
Various celebrities have embraced fatherhood in their 50s, 60s and 70s. George Clooney became a father to twins when he was 56, Jeff Goldblum had his first child at the age of 62, and Mick Jagger was 73 when his youngest son was born.
Are Men Fertile Forever?
Although a man’s fertility can theoretically last until death, sperm production has been found to decline from around the age of 50. Although it is still possible to conceive a child, and many men do have children in their 50s or later, it may take longer for you and your partner to become pregnant.
In a small trial of around 460 men, scientists compared semen volume, sperm formation and sperm output between two groups of healthy men. The first group was aged 51 or under, and the second group was aged 52 to 79.
In the group of healthy, older men, the researchers discovered that a lower volume of ejaculate was produced, along with a lower total sperm output. A greater proportion of sperm cells also had tails that had formed abnormally. A tail that cannot propel the sperm forwards may make the sperm less viable.
This study suggested that although men do continue to produce viable sperm in later life, the number of healthy sperm, and the total number of sperm cells produced, may start to decline from the age of 50.
How Can YO Sperm Tests Help?
YO Sperm home testing kits are an accurate way to investigate your fertility at home. YO Sperm tests tell you whether your motile sperm concentration is above or below the normal range. Having a concentration of motile sperm within the normal range is a good indicator of a healthy fertility level.
If you are in your 50s or beyond, you may wonder whether you are still producing a good number of sperm cells. Using a YO Sperm test at home gives you access to fast results which may give you confidence to keep trying to conceive. If the test indicates a motile sperm concentration that is below the average range, this may prompt you to seek advice from a fertility clinic at an earlier stage in your conception journey.
