The male sperm under microscope

Because sperms are prone to errors with age, increasing risks of autism, schizophrenics and other disorders in children, scientists are advising men to consider freezing their sperms as early as age 18.

The Telegraph newspaper in London quoted an expert as recommending that freezing sperm will enable men avoid their children suffering genetic disorders if they choose to have them later in life.

In Britain,it costs between 150 and 200 pounds yearly to freeze a person’s sperm. It could be cheaper using the services of the NHS,, the report said.

Dr Kevin Smith, of the School of Science, Engineering and Technology at Abertay University in Dundee, said modern genetic studies had confirmed that the sperm of older men contained a greater number of mutations and that a minority of those mutations present a risk to the health of future children.

He said: “If demographic trends towards later fatherhood continue, this will likely lead to more children suffering from genetic disorders.

“A trend of later fatherhood will accelerate the accumulation of paternal-origin de novo mutations (genetic causes of disease) in the gene pool, gradually reducing human fitness in the long term.

“These risks suggest that paternal age is of ethical importance.”

Read more at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/11697770/Men-should-freeze-their-sperm-at-age-18-scientist-says.htmlDr Smith told BBC News: “I think on a society-wide basis, we do need to wor