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Sperm output of older men
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|June 26, 2004
Summary
Male fertility declines after age 50, with older men showing reduced sperm output, abnormal morphology, and lower viability. This study investigated age-related changes in sperm parameters in healthy men over 50.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Andrology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Female fertility declines significantly after 35, while male fertility is perceived to last longer.
- Limited data exists on sperm production and function in men over 50.
- Previous studies on older men often involved volunteers from fertility clinics, introducing participation bias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in sperm production and function in healthy men aged 52-79.
- To compare sperm parameters in older men with a younger control group.
Main Methods:
- A convenience sample of 55 healthy, non-infertile men (aged 52-79) provided semen samples during prostate cancer screening.
- Semen parameters were compared to a control group of 409 younger men (<52 years) screened as potential sperm donors.
Main Results:
- Older men exhibited significantly lower semen volume (1.8 vs 3.2 ml) and total sperm output (median 74 vs 206 million).
- Sperm density was not significantly different (median 64 vs 73 million/ml).
- Older men showed increased abnormal sperm morphology (14% vs 25% normal forms), reduced vitality (51% vs 80%), and more tail abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- Sperm production (output) and quality (morphology, viability) are diminished in healthy, non-infertile men over 50.
- These findings suggest age-related declines in male reproductive capacity, even in healthy individuals.
- Further research is needed to understand the generalizability to the unselected male population.