[No arguments to support an age limit for men entering an in vitro fertilisation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection programme].
OBJECTIVE
To identify medical and psychosocial risks that could arise from allowing older men to father children through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).


METHODS
Literature review.


METHODS
The databases Medline, Current Contents weekly, Current Contents archives, and PsycINFO were searched over the period 1970--June 2004 for articles with data on age limits for men entering IVF/ICSI programmes. The following inclusion criteria were used: availability in the Netherlands and written in English or Dutch.


RESULTS
Although sperm quality decreases with age, men remain fertile up to an advanced age. The risks of having children with autosomal dominant disorders or chromosomal defects increase slightly, but the individual chance is extremely small. Studies on the psychological development of children with fathers aged > 50 years are lacking. Extrapolation from other studies indicates that growing up with an older father has no negative influence on child development. Although older fathers have a greater chance of dying sooner, the absence of the father does not contribute significantly to psychological problems in offspring later in life.


CONCLUSIONS
There are no medical or psychosocial arguments to support an age limit for men entering an IVF/ICSI programme.
Römkens
M
M
Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, 6500 HB Nijmegen.
Gordijn
B
B
Verhaak
C M
CM
Meuleman
E J H
EJ
Braat
D D M
DD
D000367:Age Factors; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*