Men's health

Sterility is a problem for aging or fat men

Infertility – the inability of a woman to conceive or a man to father – is a high-profile subject. So, too, are the alternate means used by people to deal with it.

Joan Lunden and her surrogate twins (carried by another woman), suspicion surrounding Julia Roberts' twins (were they the product of in vitro fertilization, which often produces more than one baby?), and the constant speculation about Jennifer Lopez's can-she-or-can't-she are all recent examples.

Speculation, however, often centers on the woman. Did anyone think Julia Roberts' husband or Jennifer Lopez's man were sterile? Infertility can occur as men age, even when they have had children previously.

Male sterility doesn't get much attention.

“So, how about the episode last night (that) talked about one of the characters being sterile, I am always glad when they bring it to TV, aren't you? Gets it out there and makes it more real and lets our (husbands) know they are not so unnormal .?.?.” reads a recent posting on www.fertilityforums.com.

Recent studies are finding that, like women, men can have trouble as they age: Sperm can lose its quality as guys get older.

According to a study in the Aug. 1 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, sperm quality starts to go downhill after age 35, and paternal age is a significant risk factor for miscarriage.

The findings resonated with a large infertility practice in Florida – IVF Florida Reproductive Associates (www.ivfflorida.com) – which found similar situations among its patients.

“Many of the male patients we treat were married later in life or, in the course of their second or third marriages, found they were unable to conceive – even if they had children from a previous marriage,” Dr. Marcelo J. Barrionuevo said.

“Sperm quality is clearly impacted as childbearing is increasingly delayed – for both men and women. It is already well-documented that fertility declines because of a limited number and quality of eggs for women as they get older, so this research should alert men to similar issues due to environmental and other poorly understood factors that deteriorate sperm quality over time.”

It's not just age that can be a problem. Obesity can present a barrier to fertility in men.

A 20-pound increase in men's weight may increase the chance of infertility by about 10 percent in men over 30, according to research from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

“It means that men should be sure to get the medical attention they need to uncover medical problems underlying infertility as well as avoid smoking, recreational drugs and excessive alcohol intake,” Barrionuevo said.

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