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Paternal age >or=40 years: an important risk factor for infertility
Elise de La Rochebrochard1, Patrick Thonneau
1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|October 31, 2003
Summary
Paternal age over 40 increases infertility risk, similar to maternal age over 35. This study highlights paternal age as a key factor for couples experiencing delayed conception or difficulty having a baby.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Human Fertility Studies
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Maternal age of 35 years or older is a recognized risk factor for infertility.
- Paternal age as a risk factor for infertility has been less extensively studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between paternal age and the risk of infertility.
- To compare the impact of paternal age with the established risks of advanced maternal age.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of a large, population-based sample of 6188 European women aged 25-44.
- Data collected from random selection from census registers between 1991-1993.
Main Results:
- Couples with women aged 35-39 and men aged 40+ had significantly higher risks.
- Adjusted odds ratio of 2.21 for delayed pregnancy onset (failure to conceive within 12 months).
- Adjusted odds ratio of 3.02 for difficulty having a baby (failure to conceive or no live birth).
Conclusions:
- Paternal age of 40 years or older is a significant risk factor for infertility.
- Advanced paternal age should be considered a key factor alongside advanced maternal age.
- Findings emphasize the importance of considering both parental ages in fertility assessments.