By the time women hit menopause around the age of 50, they are biologically done with child-bearing. Even prior to that, their fertility decreases from the mid-30s and technologies like egg freezing and IVF are recommended if they want to become mothers at a late age.
But, there is a long list of celebs, especially actors and singers, who became fathers at a late age. Notable among them are Godfather-II fame actor Robert De Niro, who fathered his sixth and seventh children when he was 68 and 79 years old. Actor-musician Steve Martin was 67 when he became a father for the first time. Richard Gere was around 70 when he fathered a son in 2019 and he had another son in 2020. Even Charlie Chaplin welcomed his twelfth and youngest son when he was 73 years old in 1962. The latest to join the list is veteran Hollywood star Al Pacino of Godfather fame.
Al Pacino is going to become a father for the fourth time at 83 years of age with his 29-year-old film producer girlfriend Noor Alfallah. However, the Academy award-winning actor had expressed doubts about his ability to become a father due to a medical condition that can cause infertility. A DNA test has however confirmed that he is indeed the father of the child due to be born within a month.
How men can become fathers at any age
Explaining about male fertility, Dr Bhavatej Enganti, senior consultant andrologist and urologist at Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU), Hyderabad avers, “Just like women’s egg quality deteriorates with age, especially post 35 years, similarly, the quality of sperms also declines as men age. But the main difference is that women are born with a fixed number of eggs. An egg is released during ovulation every month till they reach menopause usually between the age of 40 and 50 years. In the case of men, they can become fathers at any age but becoming a father naturally in their 70s and 80s, is extremely rare. The quality of sperms does not decline uniformly. Andropause, unlike women’s menopause, does not affect all men and can fluctuate. So, usually they won’t have zero sperm count. That is why men can become fathers even in their 70s and 80s, but mostly with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Still, we can say that the best fertility period for men and women is approximately between 20 to 30 years of age.”
Speaking about celebs becoming fathers at an advanced age, the doctor adds, “We don’t know the method used for the conception. It is possible though unlikely that the procedure was normal and natural; or they might have used ART at IVF clinics. They might have cryopreserved their sperms 10-15 years ago.”
Age limitations for ART in India
In India, as per the ART Regulation Act, reproduction through assisted reproductive technology is permissible till a woman reaches 50 years of age and the man is 55 years old. This age capping is done with various socio-economic, physical and emotional health factors of the couple in mind. The age limit for IVF varies in different countries and the age capping is somewhat higher in the Western world.
Causes of declining fertility in men and women
Smoking, genetic factors, lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, exposure to radiation, pollution, excessive stress, low immunity and poor health condition in general and aging are factors leading to poor fertility among men.
Apart from aging and genetic factors, exposure to pollution, eating unhealthy adulterated food and poor lifestyle, infection and hormonal issues are some of the factors responsible for fall in fertility and early menopause in women.
Children born to parents who are 35 to 40 years or more are at a higher risk of developing genetic mutation and being born with Down’s Syndrome. It is however possible to detect any genetic abnormality between 18 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. And if both the sperms and eggs are of good quality, then the risk is minimised, explains Dr Bhavatej.
Highlights:
Godfather-II fame actor Robert De Niro, fathered his sixth and seventh children when he was 68 and 79 years old. Actor-musician Steve Martin was 67 when he became a father for the first time. Richard Gere was around 70 when he fathered a son in 2019 and he had another son in 2020. Even Charlie Chaplin welcomed his twelfth and youngest son when he was 73 years old in 1962. The latest to join the list is veteran Hollywood star Al Pacino, 83 years old, of Godfather fame.
