Hamburg (dpa) - More and more older men are trying to become
fathers and discovering that it's not as easily achieved as it is in
youth.
Usually the man's entire lifestyle comes into question when
fertility is impaired, said Hermann Behre of the university centre
for reproductive medicine and andrology in Halle, Germany.
Smoking can have a negative effect on men advancing in age. Poor
diet and lack of exercise also play a role. In addition, men who are
overweight have a tendency toward diabetes and a reduction in the
male hormone, said Behre.
Infertility in men can also be the first sign of a serious
illness. Erectile dysfunction, for example, can indicate
cardiovascular disease.
It's also a fact that lesser male infertility problems often do
not regulate themselves in older men as well as they do in younger
men. It is estimated that every sixth couple struggles with
infertility problems.
Copyright 2008 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH