Does a male partner's age matter for fertility?
I'm 29 and my husband is 58. He is healthy, physically active and has two grown-up children from his previous marriage, both conceived naturally without any difficulties. We would now like to have a baby together. I know that a woman's age matters when it comes to fertility, but what about a man's age? Should we be concerned?
Yes, your husband's age matters, although perhaps not in quite the same way as yours.
For a long time, reproductive ageing was discussed almost exclusively in relation to women. Men continue producing sperm throughout their lives, which led to the assumption that their fertility remains largely unaffected by age. We now know that this is not entirely true.
As men get older, sperm quality and DNA integrity may decline, while the number of new genetic mutations carried by sperm increases. Being healthy and physically active is certainly beneficial, but it does not stop these age-related biological changes. And having fathered children in the past does not necessarily reflect a man's fertility today.
An interesting study published in Human Reproduction in 2026 examined more than 1,600 IVF cycles using eggs donated by young women, helping researchers distinguish the influence of paternal age from that of egg ageing. Among men over 45, miscarriage rates were approximately 25%, compared with 16% in younger men, while live birth rates were lower. Interestingly, fertilisation and blastocyst development were not significantly different between the groups.
There is also growing evidence concerning the health of children born to older fathers. Large population studies have found associations between advanced paternal age and a higher risk of certain neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions, particularly autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. However, these associations do not necessarily establish causation, and the absolute risks remain relatively low.
So, should you be worried? Not necessarily. But I would not ignore your husband's age either.
At 29, your age is favourable from the perspective of egg quality. I would suggest starting with a semen analysis and considering an andrology consultation to discuss his current reproductive health. It is important to understand, however, that a normal semen analysis cannot rule out all age-related genetic risks.
Most children born to older fathers are healthy. The purpose of discussing paternal age is not to discourage you from having a baby, but to help you make an informed decision together.
And what’s important to remember is that reproductive ageing is not exclusively a woman's issue!