With the conclusion of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee, the population policy has been adjusted, and the previously hotly debated “full opening of the second child” has become a reality. According to an online survey, in terms of whether they are willing to have a second child, young people between the ages of 20 and 29 have the lowest willingness to have two children, while older groups (35 to 40 years old) have a stronger willingness to have a second child. Are there any risks for older men to have children? Momma Lilac has previously publicized that having a child at an older age increases the risk of miscarriages, malformations, gestational diabetes, and other problems, but are there risks for older men to have children? Normally, it is sufficient to have no less than 4% normal sperms in semen, but the number of abnormal sperms in the semen of older men will rise. Deformed sperm refers to sperm that are abnormally shaped and immature, and are much less “battle-hardened” than normal sperm. There are two main types of problems that can be caused by abnormal sperm: Difficulty in conception: Some abnormal sperm are poorly energized, making it difficult for them to unite with an egg to conceive; Adverse pregnancy outcomes: Some abnormal sperm are abnormal in their genetic material, and these sperm, if they are conceived, can lead to miscarriages or fetal malformations. In short, as men age, the number of malformed sperm increases, making conception not only more difficult, but also increasing the risk of fetal malformation and miscarriage. The effect of age on sperm The reproductive age of men is relatively longer than that of women, with the golden age being 25 to 35 years old, when men are most energetic and have the best sperm quality. From the age of 40 onwards, men’s testicular function gradually declines, and semen parameters (e.g. semen volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration and sperm morphology) and sperm function also decline significantly, resulting in reduced fertility. However, there is a great deal of individual variation in sperm quality in men. Some may still preserve fertility in their 70s and 80s, while others may have very poor fertility in their 50s. The relentless years can weaken human fertility, and older men will also have a significantly higher number of malformed sperm in their semen and a lower number of normally viable sperm. In a nutshell: male fertility is on a downward trend with age. The impact of lifestyle habits on sperm In addition to the age factor, a lot of accumulated bad habits are also harming the sperm. 1, Smoking and drinking Many people know that smoking and drinking can damage the quality of sperm, but the habit is “easy to form and hard to quit”. Long-term smoking and drinking will not only reduce the quality of sperm, but also damage the spermatogenic function of the testes. 2. High temperature environment Sperm are very sensitive to the temperature of the testes. In order to produce sufficient quantity and quality of sperms, the temperature of the testes needs to be 1-2 ℃ lower than the normal body temperature. Some men’s habits such as wearing tight underwear, frequent hot springs or sauna, etc., will have an impact on sperm viability. 3, unhealthy fatty acids Saturated fatty acids (commonly found in animal fats and oils) and trans fatty acids (commonly found in processed foods) are unhealthy fatty acids, not only on the cardiovascular system has serious damage to the testicular secretion of androgens also have a certain inhibitory effect. Common foods such as fried foods, kebabs, desserts, cream, milk tea, etc. contain more unhealthy fatty acids, men who like these foods should beware. 4, Overweight and obesity Overweight and obese men generally have low sperm quality, as well as an increased risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, all of which can harm fragile sperm. How should older men prepare for childbirth? When it comes to having children at an older age, women still bear most of the risks of childbearing, such as hemorrhage, complications during pregnancy, fetal malformations, spontaneous abortion, and the future occurrence of urinary incontinence. For older men, it is a matter of routine checkups on the one hand, and improving lifestyle habits on the other. If the couple preparing for the birth of a second child are both of older age, there is a decline in all aspects of bodily functions, and they should be even more cautious in their preparation for pregnancy. First of all, it is recommended that the couple should go to the hospital for a fertility assessment. For men, the main contents of the assessment include past medical history and current physical condition. 1, the routine physical examination before pregnancy The physical examination program mainly includes heart, liver, kidney function, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc., but also can check the semen routine, assess the sperm quality. Currently, 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 motility ≥ 40% Forward motility ≥ 32% Sperm concentration ≥ 15 million/mL Percentage of normal sperms ≥ 4% If sperm quality is declining, try to find out what is wrong, such as the presence of bad lifestyle habits, decreased secretion of sex hormones, varicose veins, urogenital variations, and other factors that could be contributing to the decline in sperm quality. If the sperm quality drops, try to find out what is wrong, such as the existence of bad habits, sex hormone secretion decline, varicose veins, genitourinary tract infections, etc. 2, do a good job of preparing for pregnancy During the preparation period, men need to quit smoking and drinking, but also to stay away from “second-hand smoke”; the best not to renovate in the near future; to stay away from radiation and chemical teratogens; and to exercise properly every day. 3, careful use of drugs If you need to use drugs, you should consult a specialist. For example, the treatment of hypertension and diabetes can be changed to drugs that have less impact on sperm during the preparation period. To give birth or not to give birth, that is the question As age increases, older men, like older mothers, give birth to offspring with increased health risks. Although advanced age is not a contraindication to childbearing, there are many difficulties associated with having a child at an advanced age, and care must be taken when planning to conceive a second child. Childbirth is a sacred and great process of conception, and before giving birth to a child, one should also consider what kind of upbringing can be given to the child, in addition to physical factors. In addition, parents must communicate well with their oldest child before preparing for the birth of their second child, so that the child can have a psychological preparation and balance the attention to the two children.