Effect of paternal age on semen parameters and live birth rate of in-vitro fertilisation treatment: a retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of paternal age on semen parameters and the live birth rate from in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of couples undergoing a first IVF cycle between 2004 and 2014 in a tertiary assisted reproduction centre in Hong Kong.

RESULTS: We analysed 3549 cases. Paternal age ≥40 years was negatively correlated with semen volume, progressive motility, total motility and total normal motile count (P<0.005) and positively correlated with sperm concentration (P<0.001). There was no correlation with sperm count, normal morphology, or total motile count. Subgroup analyses in Chinese men only and in men with normal versus abnormal semen parameters showed the same correlations. Paternal age was positively associated with maternal age (P<0.001) and miscarriage (P=0.006), and negatively associated with ongoing pregnancy and live birth (P<0.001). Logistic regression showed that maternal age, total number of oocytes retrieved, and number of embryos transferred were significant factors which independently predicted the likelihood of live birth from IVF (all P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Paternal age was negatively correlated with some semen parameters, which showed a significant decline after age 40 years. However, paternal age is not predictive of the live birth from IVF treatment.