Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Delayed Motherhood Increases the Probability of Sons to be Infertile

  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose: To ascertain whether advanced maternal age at birth is associated with offspring infertility.

Methods: A written questionnaire was completed by infertile couples attending our clinic in the presence of a researcher.

Results: Maternal age at birth (odds ratio 1.236, 95% CI 1.100–1.388) and birth order of all respondents and their respective siblings (odds ratio 0.551, 95% CI 0.351–0.865) were significant predictors of male infertility. The probability of a man being infertile increased as mother's age at birth increased (regression coefficient ± standard error 0.212 ± 0.059; P < 0.001), but decreased as birth order increased (regression coefficient ± standard error −0.596 ± 0.230; P = 0.010).

Conclusions: Delayed motherhood may enhance the probability of sons to be infertile. The probability of a man being infertile would be greater if he comes from a small family than if he comes from a large family.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Sutovsky P, Moreno RD, Ramalho-Santos J, Dominko T, Simerly C, Schatten G: Ubiquitinated sperm mitochondria, selective proteolysis, and the regulation of mitochondrial inheritance in mammalian embryos. Biol Reprod 2000;63:582-590

    Google Scholar 

  2. Jansen RP: Origin and persistence of the mitochondrial genome. Hum Reprod 2000;15(Suppl 2):1-10

    Google Scholar 

  3. Tarín JJ: Aetiology of age-associated aneuploidy: A mechanism based on the “free radical theory of ageing.” Mol Hum Reprod 1995;1:1563-1565 (Hum Reprod, Vol. 10)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Tarín JJ: Potential effects of age-associated oxidative stress on mammalian oocytes/embryos. Mol Hum Reprod 1996;2:717-724

    Google Scholar 

  5. Tarín JJ, Brines J, Cano A: Long-term effects of delayed parenthood. Hum Reprod 1998;13:2371-2376

    Google Scholar 

  6. American Fertility Society: Investigation of the Infertile Couple. Birmingham, AL, American Fertility Society, 1992

  7. St John JC, Cooke ID, Barratt CL: Mitochondrial mutations and male infertility. Nat Med 1997;3:124-125

    Google Scholar 

  8. Smits LJ, Willemsen WN, Zielhuis GA, Jongbloet PH: Conditions at conception and risk of menstrual disorders. Epidemiology 1997;8:524-529

    Google Scholar 

  9. Smits L, Zielhuis G, Jongbloet P, Bouchard G: The association of birth interval, maternal age and season of birth with the fertility of daughters: A retrospective cohort study based on family reconstitutions from nineteenth and early twentieth century Quebec. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 1999;13:408-420

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sauer MV: Tubal surgery. In Infertility, Contraception and Reproductive Endocrinology, 3rd edn., DR Mishell, Jr, V Davajan, RA Lobo (eds), Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1991, pp 682-707

    Google Scholar 

  11. Mastroianni L Jr: The fallopian tube and reproductive health. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 1999;12:121-126

    Google Scholar 

  12. Beermann F, Hansmann I: Follicular maturation, luteinization and first meiotic division in oocytes after inhibiting mitochondrial function in mice with chloramphenicol. Mutat Res 1986;160:47-54

    Google Scholar 

  13. Quade A, Zierz S, Klingmuller D: Endocrine abnormalities in mitochondrial myopathy with external ophthalmoplegia. Clin Investig 1992;70:396-402

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gopalkrishnan K, Padwal V, D'Souza S, Shah R: Severe asthenozoospermia: A structural and functional study. Int J Androl 1995;18(Suppl 1):67-74

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ruiz-Pesini E, Diez C, Lapena AC, Perez-Martos A, Montoya J, Alvarez E, Arenas J, Lopez-Perez MJ: Correlation of sperm motility with mitochondrial enzymatic activities. Clin Chem 1998;44:1616-1620

    Google Scholar 

  16. Troiano L, Granata AR, Cossarizza A, Kalashnikova G, Bianchi R, Pini G, Tropea F, Carani C, Franceschi C: Mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA stainability in human sperm cells: A flow cytometry analysis with implications for male infertility. Exp Cell Res 1998;241:384-393

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kao SH, Chao HT, Wei YH: Multiple deletions of mitochondrial DNA are associated with the decline of motility and fertility of human spermatozoa. Mol Hum Reprod 1998;4:657-666

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lestienne P, Reynier P, Chretien MF, Penisson-Besnier I, Malthiery Y, Rohmer V: Oligoasthenospermia associated with multiple mitochondrial DNA rearrangements. Mol Hum Reprod 1997;3:811-814

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ruiz-Pesini E, Lapena AC, Diez-Sanchez C, Perez-Martos A, Montoya J, Alvarez E, Diaz M, Urries A, Montoro L, Lopez-Perez MJ, Enriquez JA: Human mtDNA haplogroups associated with high or reduced spermatozoa motility. Am J Hum Genet 2000;67:682-696

    Google Scholar 

  20. Wang MH, vom Saal FS: Maternal age and traits in offspring. Nature 2000;407:469-470

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kaytor MD, Burright EN, Duvick LA, Zoghbi HY, Orr HT: Increased trinucleotide repeat instability with advanced maternal age. Hum Mol Genet 1997;6:2135-2139

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hemminki K, Kyyronen P, Vaittinen P: Parental age as a risk factor of childhood leukemia and brain cancer in offspring. Epidemiology 1999;10:271-275

    Google Scholar 

  23. Moore FL, Reijo-Pera RA: Male sperm motility dictated by mother's mtDNA. Am J Hum Genet 2000;67:543-548

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Biology, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain

    Juan J. Tarín

  2. Institut Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain

    Ester Vidal & Juan Balasch

  3. Unity of Epidemiology and Statistics, Valencian School for Health Studies, Valencia, Spain

    Santiago Pérez-Hoyos

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Antonio Cano

Authors
  1. Juan J. Tarín
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ester Vidal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Santiago Pérez-Hoyos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Antonio Cano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Juan Balasch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tarín, J.J., Vidal, E., Pérez-Hoyos, S. et al. Delayed Motherhood Increases the Probability of Sons to be Infertile. J Assist Reprod Genet 18, 650–654 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013163217089

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013163217089

Search

Navigation