World IVF Day: Fertility declines with age in both women and men, says expert
New Delhi: Every year, World IVF Day is observed on July 25, marking the birth of the world’s first baby conceived through in vitro fertilisation or IVF. While assisted reproductive technologies have helped millions of couples achieve parenthood, fertility specialists emphasise that age remains one of the most important factors influencing the chances of conception.
According to Dr Surveen Ghumman Sindhu, Senior Director & HOD, IVF, Low Egg Reserve, Egg Preservation and Male Infertility, Max Hospital, Panchsheel Park, fertility is not solely affected by a woman’s age. Modern reproductive science shows that men also experience age-related changes that can influence conception, pregnancy outcomes and the health of future children.
Fertility changes differently in women and men
For years, discussions about the biological clock have largely centred on women. However, Dr Sindhu explained that age plays a significant role in fertility for both partners, although the changes occur differently.
“For generations, conversations around the biological clock have focused almost exclusively on women. However, modern reproductive science reveals a more balanced truth: age impacts fertility for both women and men, though in distinct ways. Understanding these dynamics is essential for anyone planning a family,” the fertility specialist stated.
Egg quantity and quality decline with age
A woman is born with all the eggs she will have in her lifetime. As she grows older, both the number of eggs and their quality gradually decline.
Dr Sindhu explained that while egg quantity determines how many eggs remain, egg quality refers to whether they are genetically healthy. She said that after the age of 35, eggs become more prone to chromosomal abnormalities because they are more likely to develop errors during cell division.
“When an egg with an incorrect number of chromosomes is fertilised, it often leads to implantation failure or a significantly heightened miscarriage risk,” she explained.
The expert added that this decline in egg quality also affects IVF outcomes, as it becomes increasingly difficult to obtain healthy embryos with advancing maternal age.
Male fertility also changes with age
Although men continue producing sperm throughout their lives, ageing can still affect fertility.
The IVF specialist stated that advanced paternal age, generally considered 40 years and above, has gained increasing attention in reproductive medicine because sperm quality gradually declines over time.
“Older men experience a higher rate of sperm DNA fragmentation, which means the genetic material inside the sperm is damaged or broken,” Dr Sindhu explained.
She added that poorer sperm quality, combined with age-related decline in egg quality, may reduce the chances of conception and increase pregnancy complications.
Ageing in both partners can affect pregnancy outcomes
According to Dr Sindhu, women of advanced maternal age are more likely to experience chromosomal abnormalities, including conditions such as Down syndrome, while older men have a greater risk of developing random genetic mutations in sperm.
She explained that when both partners delay parenthood, the combined effect may increase the likelihood of miscarriage, reduce IVF success rates and raise the risk of certain health conditions in children, including neurodevelopmental disorders.
Timely family planning offers better chances
“Ultimately, age does matter in fertility, acting as a shared factor for both partners. Recognising that paternal age carries its own biological timeline allows couples to make better-informed family planning and medical decisions,” Dr Sindhu stated.
She encouraged couples planning a family to understand that fertility is influenced by both maternal and paternal age, making timely planning and early medical guidance important for improving reproductive outcomes.