Older women wanting a baby can boost their chances with a younger man, say researchers

OLDER women wanting children may increase their chances by coupling with a younger man to help offset the impacts of declining fertility, research shows.

OLDER women wanting children may be best off becoming a cougar, new research suggests.

While a woman’s fertility declines after 35 — particularly after their 40th birthday — much of the damage may be offset by being teamed with a virile younger man.

Older men may also stand a better chance of fatherhood if they partner with a younger woman to make up for shortfalls in the DNA of their ageing sperm.

But the latest Monash University findings do not necessarily call for a huge age gap, instead suggesting a woman undertaking IVF may still be suited to a man under 45 — if he is in prime condition.

FERTILITY AND IVF MAY BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS

IVF TREATMENT TO BE REVIEWED BY STATE GOVERNMENT

PERSEVERING WITH IVF WILL REAP REWARDS

FAKE GYNAECOLOGIST FACES JAIL

In early stages of fertilisation, a woman’s egg has the ability to repair damaged DNA coming from either the mother of the father.

However, Monash andrologist and clinical embryologist Fabrizzio Horta said the ability to repair faulty DNA decreases with age, making it more important for a woman to have a flawless partner.

The ability to repair faulty DNA decreases with age, making it more important for a woman to have a flawless partner.

“When females start getting older they have a compromised DNA repair capacity, so older men with DNA damage in their sperm, or who are not healthy, could definitely compromise IVF treatment,” he said.

“We can say that older females with older males have a good chance that it will compromise the result.

“If the male has sperm cells that are DNA damaged, it is going to be harder to repair this damage but, if the male is healthier or younger ... it is going to be easier to get success with IVF treatments.”

A male’s age — especially those over 45 — has a strong association with sperm DNA damage, as does varicocele, smoking, stress, and drug use.

In a new study, the Monash team was able to predict the impact of female age in IVF cycles, which were tested with experimentally controlled DNA damage in sperm cells.

The results showed that the older the woman became, the capacity to overcome faulty sperm dropped off.

Older women trying to fall pregnant should consider the age and health of their partner.

The Monash research also identified particular genes that potentially control an egg’s capacity to overcome damaged DNA and how they change as a woman ages, which could be the target of further research aimed at boosting the repair work.

On a more immediate positive note for silver foxes, Mr Horta said a fit and healthy 45-year-old man may have more viable sperm than a drug-abusing or obese younger rival.

And, by pairing with a younger female with stronger DNA-repairing eggs, older men could potentially overcome their own shortfalls.

“A healthy lifestyle definitely improves your sperm. So even if a man is older, if he is healthy that could improve the result,” Mr Horta said.

“Young females will have a better DNA repair capacity, so it could be that if an older man is with a younger woman, the eggs of this woman will be able to repair this damage.”

Mr Horta will present the findings of his sperm DNA damage research at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Barcelona next month.

[e-mail]