Men who want to delay fatherhood should freeze their sperm before the age of 25 in order to combat problems with infertility, say experts.
The warning comes after figures suggest fertility clinics are seeing as much as a six-fold rise in cases of infertile men in the past three years.
Professor Luciano Nardo, a consultant gynaecologist at the Reproductive Health Group in Cheshire, said sperm issues accounted for around five per cent of all problems with couples he saw in 2014 but now represents 30 per cent.
He said that few men are aware that the quality of their semen – and its DNA integrity – is likely to start to deteriorate by their mid twenties.
His position is similar to Dr Kevin Smith, a senior lecturer in genetics, who believes it is reasonable for men as young as 18 to consider having their sperm frozen to counter the risk of genetic mutation.
Researchers have previously claimed the Western lifestyle has more than halved the sperm count of men in the US, Europe and Australia since the 1970s.
Stress, smoking, drinking too much and eating unhealthy food were named as contributing factors. Past research also reveals sperm quality is affected by chemicals found in soap, sunscreen and plastic.
Furthermore, experts warn that fertility services for men has long lagged behind those for women in the UK.
Infertility does not just affect women
Professor Nardo said it is a myth that only women suffer from fertility problems.
He said: ‘Often it is thought that men do not suffer such issues.
‘But that is not the case, and a number of studies have developed a real link between a man’s age and his ability to produce high-quality sperm.
‘In our society it is acceptable for women to freeze their eggs – but I think the idea that men should freeze their sperm should become more prevalent, too.
‘Due to social changes men are increasingly leaving it later to have children, so I would suggest anyone choosing to delay fatherhood should freeze their sperm before the age of 25.’
How does sperm freezing work?
In the UK sperm can be frozen for up to 10 years or up to 55 years if the man is likely to become infertile due to medical intervention.
The average age for first time fathers in the UK is 32.
Professor Nardo said: ‘It’s also important to note that male fertility factors may increase the risk of early miscarriage, and a standard semen analysis is not good enough to confirm that a man can impregnate a woman and have a healthy pregnancy to term.’
He added for couples having IVF the risk of failing to conceive was found to be more than five times higher if the male partner is 41 or older.
Dr Smith, a senior lecturer in bioethics and genetics at Abertay University in Dundee, said it made good sense for young men to freeze their sperm when it is at its healthiest.
He said: ‘In principal this is something that should be considered by young people.
‘If you were looking to store sperm, you would want to do so at as young an age as possible. Waiting until you are 30, or putting off parenthood for another 10 years, will increase the risk of DNA mutation.
‘There does seem to be a fairly smooth line in the graph and the older you are, the more risk there is. You can get someone whose sperm is of pretty good quality, but which has mutations.
‘Delayed fatherhood is about genetic integrity, and you are elevating risk the older the father.
‘The older the father the greater chance of having one of the recognised conditions which are associated with these mutations.’
Research on sperm health and the effect of age
Studies have indicated men under the age of 25 are most fertile and, among these men, 95 per cent of their sperm has no DNA damage – a figure which falls to 80 per cent by the age of 35.
This was highlighted in a comprehensive review by the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, on the medical literature about the effects of increased paternal age on sperm quality.
The paper, published in the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, also reported a major Swedish study in 2015 found children of fathers aged 45 and over at their birth were more likely to have certain psychiatric disorders, as well as a heightened risk of autism.
The percentage of highly damaged DNA sperm in those aged from 36 to 57 years has also been shown to be significantly higher than in men aged 20 to 35.
Other evidence has revealed sperm DNA damage affected men as young as 25, and that the levels of damage doubling between that age and 55.
STRESSED MEN HAVE ‘SOFTER’ CHILDREN
The children of overly-stressed men may be less resilient and more prone to sensitivity to stress and even post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), new research published last month suggests.
A new study demonstrated how even mild to moderate stress may affect the way that men’s sperm develops.
The resulting changes meant that these fathers passed down genetic coding for a less effective hormonal response to stress to their children.
This so-called ‘blunted’ hormonal response has been associated with those who develop certain neuropsychological disorders, including PTSD and autism.
The research was carried out by the University of Pennsylvania.
PROFESSOR NARDO’S TOP 8 TIPS FOR BETTER SPERM HEALTH
Maintain a healthy weight
The majority of male fertility issues relate to sperm disorders. But there are changes men can make to try and improve their overall wellbeing. Lifestyle can have a major impact on general health, including fertility.
Excess weight can put extra pressure on your body and there is a link between a higher BMI and a decrease in testosterone and erectile dysfunction.
It’s for these reasons it is wise to maintain a healthy weight, especially if you want to start a family.
Quit smoking
For both men and women trying to get pregnant the advice is to quit smoking.
A large volume of research has shown a link between smoking tobacco and having difficulty conceiving. Smoking can also damage sperm and cause erectile problems – making it harder to get pregnant.
Ditch the booze
Enjoying the occasional drink is fine but excessive or binge drinking could harm sperm, and sperm that is damaged is unlikely to lead to a successful conception.
Wear looser pants
It is normal for up to 96 per cent of sperm to appear abnormal in some way. However where there are higher numbers there could be an underlying cause for this.
One cause could be the increased temperature of the testes.
A number of studies in the past have tried to find a definitive link between tight fitting underpants and a higher count of abnormal sperm.
Although we can’t say for certain, it is recommended that men wear loose boxer shorts rather than briefs.
Get enough sleep
Having a good sleep routine can help you feel rested even during the busiest of times.
When you’re tired it can also make you more likely to reach for sugary quick fixes and caffeinated drinks, sending blood sugar levels up and down throughout the day and making it harder to sleep well.
Keep stress in check
Stress is generally bad news for your overall health, and it’s not great for fertility, either.
Stress is associated with hormonal changes and damage to cells in the body.
Many people think keeping stress in check while trying to conceive is purely for women, but it’s important men keep calm and take time to de-stress too.
Keep fit
Moderate exercise two or three times a week is important for overall health and studies have indicated it can also help improve the shape and concentration of sperm.
We never recommend people go on crash diets and start an intensive exercise regimes when they are trying to conceive a child, but small changes to improve overall health and well-being are really important.
Exercises like running can also improve mental health, and help to de-stress the body.
Don’t leave it too long
If you’re having regular unprotected sex with your partner for 12 months and haven’t conceived, get checked.
You may initially feel uncomfortable speaking to a doctor about these things but the earlier you talk to someone about it, the better.
Doctors can carry out a semen analysis and also check for chlamydia, which can affect fertility.
Source: Dailymail