With the conclusion of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee, the population policy has also been adjusted, and the previously discussed “full opening of the second child” has become a fact.
According to an online survey, the willingness to have a second child is lowest among young people aged 20 to 29, while the willingness to have two children is stronger among the older age group (35 to 40).
Are there risks for older men to have children?
Many people know that giving birth to an older woman increases the risk of miscarriage, malformations, gestational diabetes and other problems, but is there a risk for older men to give birth too?
Normally, a normal sperm percentage of no less than 4% in semen is sufficient, but the number of malformed sperm in semen rises in older men.
Deformed sperm refers to those sperm with abnormal morphology and immature sperm, which are much less powerful than normal sperm. Deformed sperm can cause two main types of problems.
Difficulty in conception: Some abnormal sperm are less viable and have difficulty conceiving with the egg.
Adverse pregnancy outcomes: some malformed sperm are abnormal genetic material and these sperm, if conceived, may lead to miscarriage or fetal malformation.
In short, as men age, the number of malformed sperm increases, making conception not only more difficult, but the risk of malformation and miscarriage also increases.
The effect of age on sperm quality
The prime fertility age is 25 to 35 years old, when men are most energetic and have the best sperm quality.
From the age of 40, men’s testicular function gradually declines and semen parameters (e.g. semen volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration and sperm morphology) and sperm function also decrease significantly, and so does their fertility.
However, the quality of male sperm is highly dependent on individual differences, as some people may still have fertility in their 70s and 80s, while others may have very poor fertility in their 50s.
The unforgiving years can weaken human fertility, and the number of deformed sperm in the semen of older men increases significantly, and the number of normally viable sperm decreases.
In a nutshell, male fertility is on a downward trend with increasing age.
The effect of lifestyle habits on sperm
Smoking and drinking
Many people know that smoking and drinking can damage sperm quality, but habits are “easy to form and hard to quit”. Long-term smoking and drinking will not only reduce the quality of sperm, but also damage the sperm production function of the testicles.
High temperature environment
Sperm are very sensitive to the temperature of the testicles. To produce sufficient quantity and quality of sperm, the temperature of the testicles needs to be 1 to 2°C lower than the normal body temperature. Some men’s usual habits like liking to wear tight underwear, frequent hot springs or saunas can have an impact on sperm vitality.
Unhealthy fatty acids
Saturated fatty acids (commonly found in animal fats) and trans fatty acids (commonly found in processed foods) are unhealthy fatty acids that not only cause serious damage to the cardiovascular system, but also have an inhibitory effect on the secretion of androgens by the testes.
Our common foods such as fried foods, kebabs, desserts, cream, milk tea, etc. all contain more unhealthy fatty acids, men who like these foods should beware.
Overweight and obese
Overweight and obese men generally have low sperm quality, as well as an increased risk of hypertension and diabetes, diseases that can harm the fragile sperm.
How should older men prepare?
Women still bear most of the reproductive risks when it comes to older fertility. For older men, it’s a matter of routine checkups on the one hand and improving lifestyle habits on the other.
If the couple who is planning to have a second child are both older, they should be more cautious in preparing for pregnancy as their body functions are declining in all aspects.
First of all, it is advisable for the couple to go to the hospital for a fertility assessment, which for men mainly includes past medical history and current physical condition.
Routine medical examination before pregnancy preparation
The medical examination mainly includes heart, liver and kidney functions, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc. It is also possible to check the semen routine to assess the sperm quality.
The most commonly used test to assess sperm quality is routine semen analysis, and common normal indicators include
Semen volume ≥ 1.5 mL.
Total sperm viability ≥ 40%.
Forward motility ≥ 32%.
sperm concentration ≥ 15 million/mL.
Percentage of normal sperm > 4%.
If the sperm quality decreases, try to find out what is wrong, such as whether there are poor lifestyle habits, decreased sex hormone secretion, varicose veins, genitourinary tract infection and other problems.
Prepare well for pregnancy
During the preparation period, men should quit smoking and drinking, and also stay away from “second-hand smoke”; it is better not to renovate in the near future; stay away from radiation and chemical teratogens; and exercise properly every day.
Be careful with medication
If you need to use medication, you should consult a specialist. For example, if you want to treat high blood pressure or diabetes, you can use drugs that have less effect on sperm during pregnancy preparation.
To have or not to have children, that is the question
As age increases, the health risks of the offspring born to older men increase, as does that of older women.
Although older age is not a contraindicated sign for childbirth, there are many difficulties associated with older age, so it is important to be cautious when planning to conceive a second child.
Birth is a sacred and great nurturing process, and it is important to consider what kind of environment you can give your child to grow up in, in addition to physical factors, before giving birth. In addition, parents must communicate well with the oldest before preparing for the birth of their second child, so that the child has a psychological preparation and a good balance of attention to the two children.