The is also ticking for men! According to the results of new research, men shouldn’t delay fatherhood by too long, as begins deteriorating after the age of 55.

In what’s considered , researchers from Australia’s analyzed over 40,000 semen samples to determine when quality begins to decline. Genea, formerly known as Sydney IVF, is a line of that’s been a pioneer in reproductive research since the 1980s.

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The sperm analyses were conducted over a ten-year span between April 2009 to April 2019. The researchers considered several factors, including:

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  Sperm motility
  


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  Overall sperm count
  


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  DNA fragmentation
  

In conclusion, the researchers found that while sperm begins to deteriorate in quality when men are in their mid-40s, it takes a significant nosedive following the age of 55-years-old.

As men age, the sperm DNA becomes more fragmented. The researchers warn this may not only make conception more difficult, but it can increase the risk of or stillbirth. After the age of 55, however, this fragmentation becomes even more pronounced.

The researchers hope to challenge the misconception that fertility issues often lie with the woman. Female fertility begins to decline after the age of 35-years old, so while the authors noted that men have more time in terms of their biological clock, they’re not immune from the effects of aging.

In fact, the researchers noted that in approximately 40% of cases in which couples are having trouble conceiving, the issue lies with the man, specifically in terms of the quality of quantity of his sperm.

This isn’t the only recent study to emphasize the effects of age on male fertility. Earlier this month, we reported that , particularly after 50-years old.

The research was conducted at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health in London, and the team looked at samples from 4,300 males who consulted In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) in hopes of conceiving. In conclusion, they found that the chance of conceiving via IVF or ICSI is 33% lower in men over 50-years old.

In general, research has found that sperm quantity and mobility decrease with age, suggesting that men have better luck conceiving the younger they are. In the cases of both males and females, it’s best not to delay parenthood for too long given the negative impact age can have on fertility.

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