Does the Father's Age Matter?

Yes, according to Dr. Stephanie Belloc of the Eylau Center for Assisted Reproduction. She presented these findings earlier in the week in Spain at the annual conference for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

Her study looked at 12, 236 couples who were using intrauterine insemination (IUI) to become pregnant. They used their partner’s sperm even though most of them had been treated for fertility issues.

One thing she found was that there seemed to be a link between the mother’s age and the pregnancy rate. When she looked at the group of women who were over 35 years old, their pregnancy rate using IUI was 8.9 percent. This compared to the 14.5 percent conception rate for women in the group under the age of 35.

Of interest though, was that the father’s age seemed to play a part as well. Women who became pregnant using sperm from the men who were older than 35, were at a greater chance of miscarriage.

Dr. Belloc believes that this is significant not only because it supports previous studies linking the father’s age with compromised sperm, but also because it may lead fertility doctors to recommend IVF or ICSI for couples over the age of 35.