Men Have A Biological Clock And Should Consider Freezing Their Sperm, Scientists Say

But a recent report has revealed that men have a biological clock when it comes to fertility - just like women.

The findings, published in Maturitas, are based on a review of 40 years' worth of evidence on the effect of parental age on fertility, pregnancy and the health of children.

Co-author of the research, Professor Gloria Bachmann, has revealed that a man's age can have a "similar impact" on a child's development as women's.

She said: "While it's widely accepted physiological changes that occur in women after 35 can affect conception, pregnancy and the health of the child, most men do not realise their advanced age can have a similar impact."

Professor Bachmann said the medical profession has no clear accepted definition of when advanced paternal age begins - with it ranging from 35 to 45.

The study also found older men struggled with fertility issues even if their partner was under 25.

She added: "While women tend to be more aware and educated than men about their reproductive health, most men do not consult with physicians unless they have a medical or fertility issue."

She recommended doctors counsel older men as they do older women on the effect their age will have on conception, pregnancy and the health of their child.

Some 18 per cent of children born in England and Wales have a father aged 40 and above, according to the Office of National Statistics.

The average age of fathers in 2016 was 33.3, nearly four years older than 1974, when they were 29.4.

The age of mothers have increased at almost exactly the same rate - they had an average age of 30.4 in 2016, and 26.4 in 1974, also a rise of four years.