Men have been given a health warning and told to ignore common myths. According to Josephine Smith, Supplement Hub’s in-house Practitioner, male fertility begins to drop in the mid-to-late 30s – despite the myth that men are fertile forever.
One study analysing over 450,000 births found a clear drop in male fertility beginning at ages 35–39. Fertility continued to decline steadily in every age bracket after 40. In assisted reproduction settings, older paternal age is a clear disadvantage – London-based analysis of nearly 5,000 IVF cycles found that men over 51 were significantly less likely to meet World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for healthy semen and clinical pregnancy rates decreased with each older male age group. This suggests that fertility technology cannot compensate for age-related sperm decline. While public health campaigns focus almost exclusively on female fertility decline, experts say the data makes one thing clear: men’s fertility ages too – and starts earlier than many think.
Professor Allan Pacey, an expert in male fertility, said research shows men over the age of 40 are “about half as fertile” as men aged 25.
Men are recommended to eat a nutrient-rich diet through foods high in antioxidants, oily fish, and a colourful variety of fruit and vegetables. Key nutrients for healthy sperm include Zinc, selenium, folate, vitamin C, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, and L‑carnitine.
They have also been told to limit alcohol and smoking, or cut it out entirely. Men are encouraged to cut out alcohol three to six months before trying to conceive. Even occasional binge drinking may temporarily reduce sperm motility.
Exercise is also important, but not excessively. Moderate and consistent exercise is important to keep hormones healthy. High-intensity endurance training can suppress testosterone if overdone.
Josephine Smith said: “Most women have heard the phrase ‘ticking clock’ when it comes to fertility – and most 20 and 30-something women will tell you they are always questioned by family members on when they’re planning on having children.
“However, not enough narrative surrounds where men come into this equation. Research shows that by the mid-30s, sperm quality begins to drop, and by 40, risks associated with DNA damage increase.
“Understanding male fertility is just as important as understanding female fertility, but that conversation just hasn’t caught up yet. That’s why it’s important for men to understand how they can make lifestyle changes to increase sperm quality and count.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
