Father’s Day: Is there an age limit for men to become fathers?

Late fatherhood is an increasingly common phenomenon, driven by factors such as educational and professional plans. Cultural factors also impact the formation of families. But are there any risks associated with this decision? Medicine has some important answers.

In conversation with CNN Daniel Suslik Zylbersztejn, specialist in human reproduction and medical coordinator at Fleury Fertilidade, commented on male fertility.

What are the risks?

According to medicine, the quality and quantity of sperm tend to decrease with age. This can make conception difficult and increase the risk of miscarriages.

“As men age, although many maintain a good quantitative volume, they can lose sperm quality. And with poor quality, they can have difficulty reproducing,” explains Zylbersztejn.

Older men are also more likely to have children with chromosomal abnormalities. Studies indicate an increased risk of conditions such as autism and schizophrenia in children of older fathers.

“These are two diseases that are related to paternal age. But there are other risks such as bone malformation, among other diseases,” adds the specialist.

He explains that fatherhood after the age of 45 implies a higher incidence of congenital diseases, such as heart problems and dwarfism. According to him, these diseases are also related to poor semen quality.

“It’s not just a question of getting pregnant, but there’s also a question of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby,” Zylbersztejn ponders.

Medical Recommendations

Despite the risks, there are ways to mitigate these problems. Regular consultations with human reproduction specialists, sperm tests, and specific treatments can help monitor and improve male reproductive health. Another important factor is the quality of life that the individual leads. For the human reproduction coordinator, obesity is something that greatly hinders a man’s reproductive capacity.

“Doing physical activities, having a healthy diet that is rich in nutrients and vitamins, and avoiding processed foods will help with sperm quality,” adds Daniel.

The specialist considers cultural issues in men’s reproductive health care. He explains that unlike women, who usually have routine checkups from the beginning of their menstrual period, men, on the other hand, rarely go to the doctor. He believes that this barrier is yet another sexist concept in our society.

“We need to bring this culture to men from adolescence onwards, so that they have this culture of self-care. Men do not need to run after their health, but rather run after being healthy”, concludes Zylbersztejn.