Biological clock ticking for men too
10 July 2007
Hopefully this research will put the brakes on the current relentless trend for couples to leave having a baby so late 
Dr Gillian Evans, Medical Director for Midland Fertility Services and spokesperson for the British Fertility Society
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At 40 a man's biological clock starts ticking, making it more difficult for some couples to become pregnant and more likely to miscarry.
Scientists announced the findings of their five-year study at the annual European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference. They followed the progress of more than 12,000 couples undergoing fertility treatment to see what factors affected their chances of becoming pregnant.
It's well known that a women's age affects her fertility - over the age of 35, the chances of pregnancy begin to decrease and the odds of having a miscarriage, if she does get pregnant, are higher. However, there has been little evidence that the same is true for men - until now.
According to the research team, these findings have important implications on fertility treatments. Traditionally, a man's age has had no impact on whether assisted conception treatments are considered, whereas a woman's age has. The researchers recommend that treatments like IVF and ICSI should be offered to infertile couples when either the man or woman is over the age of 40. Dr Stephanie Belloc, lead researcher, argued, "These methods, although not in themselves a guarantee of success, may help couples where the man is older to achieve a pregnancy more quickly, and also reduce the risk of miscarriage."
The Bupa health information team asked Dr Gillian Evans, Medical Director for Midland Fertility Services, and spokesperson for the British Fertility Society, for her thoughts. "Hopefully this research will put the brakes on the current relentless trend for couples to leave having a baby so late. Many men mistakenly believe that there is no drop in male fertility and leave trying for a baby as late as possible. This research may persuade them to plan a family at a younger age, at a time which is also best for their partner."
However, Dr Evans warns that the recommendations made by the researchers about offering fertility treatments, "…may put increasing demands on already stretched fertility services around the country".
The Chief Executive of the Infertility Network, Claire Brown, had this advice for older couples trying for a baby: "Normally, the message to couples trying for a baby is to wait one year before seeing their GP. However, if you are having trouble conceiving and are over the age of 35 (for women) or over 40 (for men) you should see your GP after six months of trying. Also, it's important to remember that IVF and ICSI are not the only treatments available for infertility, there are other less-invasive treatments that can be tried first."
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