Reproductive axis ageing and fertility in men.
Sarah Martins Da SilvaRichard A AndersonPublished in: Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders (2022)
Compared to women, increasing male age is not accompanied by such marked changes in reproductive function but changes certainly do happen. These include alterations to the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis, with resultant implications for testosterone production and bioavailability as well as spermatogenesis. There is a decline in sexual function as men age, with a dramatic increase in the prevalence of erectile dysfunction after the age of 40, which is a marker for both clinically evident as well as covert coronary artery disease. Despite a quantitative decline in spermatogenesis and reduced fecundability, the male potential for fertility persists throughout adult life, however there are also increasingly recognised alterations in sperm quality and function with significant implications for offspring health. These changes are relevant to both natural and medically assisted conception.
Keyphrases
- coronary artery disease
- healthcare
- public health
- childhood cancer
- mental health
- risk factors
- middle aged
- high resolution
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- high fat diet
- type diabetes
- percutaneous coronary intervention
- adipose tissue
- young adults
- risk assessment
- human health
- health information
- coronary artery bypass grafting
- social media
- health promotion
- mass spectrometry
- pregnancy outcomes
- atrial fibrillation