A groundbreaking 2025 study published in Science Advances has upended long-held assumptions about fertility and aging. Researchers discovered that while women lose eggs over time, the genetic quality of those eggs remains remarkably stable, unlike men’s sperm, which accumulates DNA mutations as they age.
Using ultra-accurate DNA sequencing, scientists found that sperm from older men, especially those over 40, were significantly more likely to carry harmful genetic changes. These mutations are linked to serious health conditions, including neurodevelopmental disorders, autism, and certain cancers.
In contrast, the study showed that women’s eggs, although fewer in number with age, maintain relatively stable DNA integrity. This finding directly challenges decades of reproductive science that placed the weight of fertility decline primarily on women.
“The biological clock ticks for both sexes,” the researchers concluded, “but in very different ways.”
The implications are profound. Men’s age may influence not only conception success but also pregnancy outcomes and the long-term health of children. The findings also raise new questions about family planning, fertility counseling, and the broader understanding of reproductive health.
In essence, time affects both men and women, but while women’s fertility is about quantity, men’s is increasingly about quality.
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