Male biological clock ticks too

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Scientists have found more evidence that men as well as women have biological clocks and that they start to tick in their mid-30s.

A French study of over 12,200 couples having fertility treatment suggests the chance of a successful pregnancy falls when the man is aged over 35.  As expected, maternal age had an effect in women over 35, who had a significantly higher chance of miscarriage and lower rate of pregnancy. But the team also found that, where the father was in his late 30s, miscarriages were more common than if the man was younger. And if a man was over 40, the chances of a successful pregnancy were even lower. For those couples, a third of pregnancies ended in miscarriage and only 10% of treatments resulted in pregnancies.

"Previous studies of couples trying to conceive naturally or undergoing IVF have shown that men over the age of about 40 are less fertile than younger men. Moreover, if they do achieve a pregnancy their partners are more likely to miscarry.

"This study reinforces the message that men aren't excused from reproductive ageing."

Details of the study can be found on the BBC website.