When are you becoming a father? His biological clock is ticking too

Doctors say more men are seeking fertility assessment as age and lifestyle affect sperm health. The shift is recasting infertility as a shared responsibility and prompting earlier evaluation for both partners.

In Short

• Doctors say male fertility issues affect nearly half of struggling couples
• Men are increasingly seeking assessment, treatment and healthier routines for sperm health
• Male infertility can stem from hormonal, genetic, lifestyle and metabolic conditions

For the most part of history, fertility has largely been associated with a woman. Like it's her responsibility to be careful of a "biological clock" while being constantly reminded of it. Men, meanwhile, have escaped similar scrutiny under the assumption that they remain fertile throughout life.

But now that narrative is changing.

Though men can remain fertile much longer than women, age does affect male fertility.

In short, fertility is not just about a woman's age.

MORE MEN ARE FINALLY SEEKING HELP

As men get older, testosterone levels slowly fall, sperm quality declines, and the chances of pregnancy complications usually increase.

Along with unhealthy lifestyle habits, these changes are making fertility experts rethink how couples plan for parenthood.

Doctors say one of the biggest changes they have seen in recent years is that men are finally becoming active participants in fertility care.

Mrunalini Jagne, Fertility Consultant and IVF Specialist at Motherhood Fertility & IVF, Navi Mumbai, said that today, nearly 40-50% of couples seeking fertility consultations are found to have male fertility issues.

"Men are now coming forward for assessment and treatment because awareness has increased and they understand that fertility is a shared responsibility," she said.

As a result, couples are increasingly undergoing fertility evaluations together instead of assuming the problem lies only with the woman.

Doctors say many men are also making lifestyle changes, including eating healthier, exercising regularly, losing excess weight, quitting smoking and alcohol, improving sleep and managing stress to improve sperm health.

MALE INFERTILITY IS MORE COMMON THAN MANY THINK

According to the World Health Organisation, one in six couples worldwide experiences infertility during their lifetime.

In India, about 10-15% of couples trying to conceive face fertility problems, and nearly half of these cases involve male factors.

Dr. Sneha Sathe, Clinical Director and Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, Mumbai, said male infertility can result from several causes.

These include low sperm count, poor sperm movement, abnormal sperm shape, hormonal disorders, erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction, varicocele, genetic conditions, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, chronic stress and poorly controlled diabetes.

Studies also show that male factor infertility is the primary cause in nearly 30% of infertile couples and contributes to another 20-30% of cases. This is why doctors stress that both partners should be evaluated together.

"If you've been finding it difficult to conceive, don't let myths or stigma prevent you from getting evaluated. A simple consultation and semen analysis are often the first steps. Fertility is a journey for both partners, and timely medical advice can make all the difference," Dr. Sathe said.

YES, MEN HAVE A BIOLOGICAL CLOCK TOO

Unlike women, whose fertility declines more sharply after their mid-30s, men's fertility usually falls gradually.

Research suggests that as men age, sperm volume decreases by 3-22%, sperm motility, or the sperm's ability to swim, declines by 3-37%, while abnormal sperm shape increases by 4-18%.

Scientists have also found that ageing is linked to greater sperm DNA damage, known as DNA fragmentation, which has been associated with lower chances of conception and a higher risk of miscarriage.

A large study comparing men older than 35 with those younger than 25 found that the older group had about a 50% lower chance of achieving pregnancy within 12 months.

UNDERSTANDING ANDROPAUSE

One reason for this gradual decline is andropause, an age-related fall in testosterone levels that typically begins after the age of 40 to 50.

Unlike menopause, which marks the end of female reproductive function, andropause develops slowly and many men remain fertile throughout life.

However, the condition can still affect reproductive health.

Dr. Sutapa Sen, gynecologist and IVF specialist, Director, She Delhi, said lower testosterone levels usually reduce sexual desire, contribute to erectile dysfunction and increase sperm DNA fragmentation.

"Higher sperm DNA fragmentation can increase the time it takes to conceive, reduce the chances of conception and increase the risk of miscarriage," she said.

Similarly, Dr. Meenu Handa, Director, Fertility and Head Academic, Reproductive Medicine, Motherhood Hospital, Gurugram, explained that andropause could lead to late-onset hypogonadism, a condition in which testosterone production declines enough to affect health.

"Late-onset hypogonadism can reduce intratesticular testosterone, impair sperm production and lower fertility. Age-related changes also include reduced semen volume, poorer sperm motility and abnormal sperm morphology. Increased paternal age has also been linked with higher miscarriage rates," she said.

FERTILITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

The biggest misconception that still exists is that fertility is primarily a woman's issue.

The growing number of men seeking fertility care is helping change that perception.

Earlier diagnosis means couples can receive treatment sooner, improve their chances of conception and avoid unnecessary delays.

While women should not ignore their biological clock, men should not ignore theirs either.

Age, lifestyle, obesity, smoking, stress and declining testosterone all influence sperm health.

As fertility science evolves, so does the perception of family planning.

Just like a woman's reproductive age, a man's age and health matter too, making fertility a shared responsibility from the very beginning.

- Ends