Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2008 , Vol 11, Issue 4
SPERMATOGENESIS AND FERTILIZATION IN ELDERLY MEN
Zonguldak Karaelmas Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Histoloji ve Embriyoloji Anabilim Dalı ZONGULDAK Old age leads to a series of changes both in male and female organisms and increasing male age is considered to affect spermatogenesis and fertilization as well. Recently, the upward shift in paternal age has accelerated research on the effects of advanced male age. Most studies maintain that semen parameters; in particular, sperm mobility, semen volume, and the number of sperms with normal morphology are adversely affected by the increase in male age, while sperm concentration remains unchanged. However, these age-dependent changes are at a moderate level and it is still uncertain whether this phenomenon has an impact on delayed fertility. The relationship between advanced male age and the qualitative and quantitative changes in sperm chromosomes is a controversial subject of current interest. Consequently, further studies to be conducted on elderly men with no systemic or reproductive health-related problems in which maternal age will be eliminated could provide more tangible information. Keywords : Advanced male age, Spermatogenesis, Fertilization