Recently in Age and Infertility Category

Although a great deal of attention has been focused on the negative consequences of delaying childbearing among women, it is becoming clear that men also face significant risks when they delay starting a family. As a group, men over 35, and especially over 45, are more likely to be infertile, since the average quality of men's sperm falls over time.

But of even greater concern, children fathered by "older" men may have a greater risk of a variety of conditions, including autism and schizophrenia. In a subsequent blog, I will explore this association in detail. For now, suffice it to say that this increased risk is present in only some older men, and that tests are available to determine whether the offspring of any given man are at greater risk for these conditions. We do at least one of these tests prior to performing any fertility cycle involving a man over the age of 35.