Older Father Produce Smarter Kid

by Dr Agilan Arjunan , Fertility Specialist & Gynaecologist, KL Fertility Centre (Malaysia)

For many years we have known the importance of age and female fertility . A woman’s chances to get pregnant decline with advancing age.

As for men, we used to think that he can reproduce as long as he can produce sperm. That’s not the entire truth. Men’s fertility also decline with age. However, the decline is much more subtle. In the last 5-10 years , we are seeing a rapid decline in male fertility , i.e. the sperm quantity and quality is poorer even in a younger men.

In my daily practice, I too have noticed the same trend in male fertility.

Scientific research over the last decade has shown that children born to older men has higher risk of certain condition such as autism and schizophrenia. This again reminds us that men should not delay his first child.

Interestingly , a recent research found that older men maybe can produce smarter kids! When the researchers looked at relationship between father’s age and certain features in their son, they noticed that older father’s have a more ‘intelligent’ sons.

Fertility Tests Simplified

by Dr Agilan Arjunan , Fertility Specialist , KL Fertility Centre (Malaysia)

Have you ever gone through a fertility assessment before?

For those who had done it , you know that it can initially look very complicated with all those internal ultrasound scans, blood tests, x-ray tests and sperm test. For those who have not, rest easy as all those tests are simplified for you.

Fertility test are divided into 2 , tests for female and test for male partner.

For a man , the most important test is a semen analysis (sperm test). About a third of couples has a major problem with the male partner and thus it is very important to do this test.

“A 70 year old man can still reproduce, so this can’t be a major issue right?” . Its yes and a no. It is true that a man continues to produce sperm but the QUALITY of the sperm deteriorates as he ages. Low sperm quality equals to low chance to conceive.

What is looked for in a sperm test ?

Fertility Fitness

by Dr Agilan Arjunan , Fertility Specialist , KL Fertility Centre (Malaysia)

Article Published in Fit For Life , The Star (14th May 2017): http://www.star2.com/health/wellness/2017/05/14/fit-to-be-fertile/

“ The word fitness is synonymous with healthy lifestyle . What about fertility fitness ? ”

Fitness is part of our lifestyle. This concept is widely accepted thanks to our health educational efforts. Fitness and healthy lifestyle is commonly associated with prevention of lifestyle related diseases. Many healthcare campaigns over the years have proven effective in reducing the disease burden in our society. Despite all these efforts , how many of us are aware of fertility fitness ?

What is fertility fitness

Fertility is the state of being fertile . Fertile is the ability of every men and women to produce offsprings or children. Fitness is a condition of being physically fit and healthy.

Therefore, fertility fitness is a condition where a man and woman is physically fit and healthy to produce children.

Fertility fitness also encompass ‘emotional fitness’ to be ready and able to embrace parenthood.

Why fertility fitness

It is a well known fact that fertility rate is declining . This fact is true for both men and women. In other words, the rate of male and female infertility is rising in the last 10 years.

All of us might agree that prevention is better than cure. This is true for health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. We take care of our food and physical fitness to ‘avoid’ developing those conditions.

However, when it comes to fertility health , we tend to pay attention to it when we are facing difficulty conceiving (infertility). We prefer to ‘treat’ infertility rather than ‘prevent’ infertility.

You may ask , “If I pay attention to fertility fitness ,can I avoid infertility ?” .

Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant Again ?

by Dr Agilan Arjunan, Fertility Specialist, KL Fertility Centre ( Malaysia)

Mrs M walked into the clinic with her beautiful daughter Maya, aged 5 . She is a happily married woman and conceived Maya within their first 6 months of marriage. Her pregnancy was well and Maya was delivered via a caesarean delivery.

The obvious question popped up in my mind, “ How can I help you ?”

“ Well one ain’t enough and we have been trying for a second child for the past one and a half years. I just don’t understand why i am not getting pregnant. I got pregnant with Maya easily. Surely we are not suffering from infertility. But why it is not happening again ?”

She is just one out of many women who find it difficult to believe that they are struggling for a second child or what is medically known as secondary subfertility.

What leads to secondary subfertility ? Let’s find out why.

Causes of Male Infertility

By Dr Agilan Arjunan, Fertility Specialist, KL Fertility Centre (Malaysia)

‘Male infertility is on the rise’, that’s a fact that many men realise now. However, the bigger question is WHY ?

Are we (the males) doing something wrong or are we not doing something right that is giving rise to male infertility in recent years.

Let us look at what can lead to male infertility . Generally, the causes of male infertility can be broadly divided into :

a) Sperm production problems

b) Sperm transport blockage problems

c) Sexual problems

d) Hormonal and sperm antibody problem (rare)

Worldwide statistics and from my own experience managing male infertility, the majority of men have either sperm production or blockage of sperm transport pathway or a combination of both.

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