How Male Fertility Declines With Age

Most men know that women's fertility declines after the age of 35, but many men are not aware that their age can affect their ability to become a parent, too. While less is known about male fertility and age, there is evidence that the older a man becomes, the more his fertility diminishes. You can't change your age, but you can arm yourself with the knowledge to improve your chances of successfully having a family.

It is not impossible for older men to father children, in fact, many men remain fertile until they are 60. But conceiving does become more difficult and complicated as you age.

Luckily, while you may experience a decline in fertility the older you get, there are things you can do to improve fertility as you age.

• Eat healthfully and exercise: Obesity can contribute to infertility in men, and eating a healthy diet and being more active can reverse some fertility problems associated with obesity. In addition, losing weight can increase sperm count. Healthy diet and exercise can turn into a form of fertility therapy in itself.
• Consider lifestyle changes: Severe stress, alcohol, smoking and the use of hard drugs can all affect your sperm count. If any of these habits are part of your lifestyle, working toward changing them could increase your chances of remaining fertile as you age.
• See a specialist: Fertility specialists are not just beneficial for women. If you and your partner are having difficulty conceiving, a specialist can help you combat age-related fertility issues and go through some testing.