Issue Date: October 4, 2009
Yes, men also have biological clocks
We all know that women hear that "ticktock" as they get older. Just curious: Do men have a biological clock?
S.E., Alabama
A: How's this for a wake-up call? According to urologist Harry Fisch, director of the Male Reproductive Center and professor of clinical urology at Columbia University/New York Presbyterian Hospital, men do have biological clocks.
If you're thinking about dating an older guy, consider this: After age 30, levels of testosterone, which affect a man's fertility, decline by about 1% per year, Fisch says. "After 40, his offspring are at an increased risk of having autism, a lower IQ or birth defects," he says. "There is also a higher rate of infertility and miscarriage for women [with men over 40]."
By the way, that little blue pill may let him keep up with you sexually, but it doesn't give you a clue as to his ability to give you a child. Smoking, drinking and carrying extra weight all can negatively affect sperm count. In fact, there are five important numbers that older men need to know before starting a family: blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, and PSA (prostate) and testosterone levels. The better the numbers, the longer a man can delay having kids without experiencing complications.
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