Male Fertility and the Passage of Time: A Challenge Threatening Future Generations

نویسندگان

1 Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna, Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

doi
10.22034/tru.2025.538050.1264
چکیده

Recent findings have shown that male fertility, which was once believed to stay consistent throughout adulthood, actually starts to decline significantly around the age of 30 due to various biological factors. This aspect of reproductive aging is a crucial yet often overlooked contributor to infertility today. In the field of reproductive medicine, gaining insight into how paternal age affects fertility holds great potential for enhancing pregnancy success rates and minimizing genetic risks linked to older fathers, such as autism spectrum disorders and other developmental issues. Clinical studies indicate that sperm from older men tends to have more deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation, lower motility, and higher mutation rates, all of which can negatively affect embryonic development and the health of offspring. Although there are still many hurdles to overcome in preserving male fertility and determining the best times for intervention, acknowledging the male biological clock could transform reproductive counseling and create more opportunities for couples to conceive successfully.