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Study Links Paternal Age Over 45 to Reduced IVF Success in Donor Egg Cycles

Published in Human Reproduction following its ESHRE debut, the research challenges the maternal-age focus by recommending fertility counseling address male age effects.

Doctor providing compassionate healthcare consultation while young couple patient holding hand, comfort each other after infertile report.
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The study covered six IVF centres in Italy and Spain

Overview

  • The study analyzed 1,712 first donor egg IVF cycles conducted from 2019 to 2023 at six centers in Italy and Spain to isolate the impact of male partner age.
  • Couples with male partners over 45 experienced a 23.8% miscarriage rate, compared with 16.3% among those with younger partners.
  • Live birth rates dropped to 35.1% for fathers older than 45 versus 41% for men 45 and under.
  • Researchers attribute these outcomes to age-related sperm changes, including DNA fragmentation, chromosomal abnormalities and epigenetic alterations that can impair embryo development.
  • Presented this week at the ESHRE Annual Meeting and published in Human Reproduction, the findings prompt recommendations that fertility clinics update counseling to include male age considerations.