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Claim: An Instagram user, @Drbelswelness, claimed that new research shows women’s egg quality does not decrease with age, and that it is men’s sperm that has a biological clock.
Verdict: Misleading. Scientific evidence shows that both male and female fertility decline with age, though in different ways. Women lose both the number and quality of eggs, while men experience reduced sperm quality and higher genetic mutations over time.
Full Text
Modern medicine has a way of humbling what is already known about the human body. In recent years, advancements in genetics and molecular science, combined with new medical imaging and data analysis tools, have transformed the understanding of health and disease. These advances have led to cures and discoveries that once seemed impossible, showing that much about the human body remains unexplored.
Recently, an Instagram user @Drbelswelness claimed that a new science bombshell has proven that women’s egg quality does not decrease with age, that it is men’s sperm that has a biological clock.
The user wrote in a more detailed form, “You’ve always heard that women have a biological clock. Well, science has just redefined how exactly the clock ticks. Researchers have delved deep into the genetic composition of eggs and sperm as they age and discovered something shocking. Women’s eggs don’t accumulate more DNA mutations as they age. In fact, men’s sperm does, and the older the man, the higher the risk of genetic errors.”
@Drbelswelness further explained that because these mutations in sperm increase with paternal age, children born to older fathers may face higher risks of conditions such as Down syndrome, autism, and schizophrenia.
The user acknowledged that age still reduces a woman’s quantity of eggs, which can make conceiving harder and raise miscarriage risk, but argued that the DNA quality of eggs remains relatively stable compared with sperm.
As of Oct. 24, 2025, the post had garnered 101,000 likes, 4,843 comments, and 8,293 reposts.
We looked at the post’s comment section and found conflicting comments.
Excited about this revelation, @Nanaya102 wrote, “I think science owes women a big apology cos we have been abused for too long concerning our precious ovaries. Glory be to God, our dear ovaries have been vindicated!! Let me sleep in peace,” while @Deborah wrote, “Dear older women, marry younger men.” Dear older men, if you like, don’t go and marry, your time is going.
@Official Dralex questioned the source of the research. He wrote, “Where is the research article published, and which country conducted it? What were the variables, samples used from which specimen, race, region, and demography?”
@Dr Amandajordan, who disagreed with the claim, wrote, “This is not true at all. Eggs most definitely age, as does EVERY cell in the body. Also true that sperm quality declines. You diminish your point when you mix it with untruths.”
@Davev added, “This is a lie, science says no such thing.”
The comments were a mishmash of reactions from people who celebrated the update and others who felt the claim was either unbalanced or completely false. Considering the level of engagement and the sensitive nature of the claim, DUBAWA decided to double-check for accuracy.
Verification
DUBAWA first sought clarification from the claimant regarding the source of her claim or the research cited in the post; however, we did not get a response.
So we began our verification by conducting keyword searches using terms such as “women egg quality age,” “paternal age sperm mutations,” “male biological clock,” and “how age affects fertility in men and women.” This search aimed to identify credible research that could either support or contradict the claim that women’s egg quality does not decline with age, while men’s sperm does.
The search revealed several scientific studies suggesting that both egg and sperm quality are affected by age, though not in the same way the viral post implied. A 2025 study published in the Journal of Ovarian Research shows that as women age, their reproductive system undergoes significant biological changes that affect the quality and quantity of eggs. The study found that these age-related changes reduce the metabolic function of follicles and compromise the genetic stability of eggs, thereby increasing the likelihood of chromosomal errors, such as Down syndrome.
Another study in PubMed noted that the risk of aneuploidy, where eggs carry an abnormal number of chromosomes, increases sharply after age 35. These findings confirm that ageing directly affects the biological and genetic integrity of eggs, and counter the claim that women’s egg quality remains constant.
At the same time, DUBAWA found that the claim about men’s fertility also holds some truth, though it was presented without full context. Unlike women, men produce sperm continuously throughout their lives, but studies show that sperm quality can decline with age. A 2022 paper in Nature Reviews Genetics reported that older fathers tend to pass more new genetic mutations to their children, which can increase the risk of conditions such as autism and schizophrenia. Another study, published in Nature in 2019, supported this finding, showing that the number of these mutations rises steadily with paternal age. Again, research from Oxford Academic’s Human Reproduction journal notes that DNA fragmentation, oxidative stress, and reduced sperm motility are more common in older men.
From this analysis, it becomes clear that male and female fertility declines with age, but through different biological mechanisms. Women experience a loss in egg quantity and genetic stability over time, while men face higher risks of sperm DNA damage and lower motility. None of the available peer-reviewed studies support the claim that women’s egg quality stays stable as they age, nor do they suggest that men’s fertility declines faster. The research consistently shows that the fertility of both genders is influenced by ageing, but in distinct ways.
Insight from medical experts
Bila Esther, a fertility specialist at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, said that while people might suggest women’s eggs do not age as quickly, such statements remain uncertain and should be approached with caution. She explained that existing medical knowledge continues to show that the quality and quantity of eggs decline as women grow older.
She added that although some studies have found that the mitochondria in eggs, which supply energy, may remain stable, the nucleus, which holds the genetic material, can still be affected by age.
“An egg is a cell like every other in the body. And just as cells age and weaken over time, so do eggs. That means the genetic quality of eggs can still reduce as a woman grows older,” she said.
Esther also noted that fertility naturally declines in both men and women. In men, sperm motility and genetic stability drop over time, while in women, prolonged exposure to diet, stress, and environmental factors can affect egg health. “It is a natural process of life,” she said.
Shehu Ibrahim, a gynaecologist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, explained that the effect of age on fertility is one reason many women choose to preserve their eggs. According to him, women who want to delay childbearing because of work or education often turn to egg freezing. These eggs are collected and stored until the woman is ready to conceive, giving her a better chance of using healthy, high-quality eggs.
“When a woman freezes her eggs early, the chances of successful conception later in life are higher,” he said. “But if the process happens at an older age, fertility still drops because the body itself is ageing. The quality of eggs and the ability to conceive reduce with time, and that’s a natural fact for both men and women.”
He also pointed out that habits like smoking, alcohol use, and drug abuse have a significant impact on fertility. According to him, these lifestyle choices are becoming common in society and often damage the reproductive system in both sexes.
“When we talk about fertility challenges, it is not just about women or men alone. Age, health, and lifestyle all play a role, and these factors affect both sides,” Ibrahim said.
Conclusion
While research continues to shed light on reproductive health, no credible study confirms that women’s eggs remain unaffected by age. Both men and women experience fertility decline as they grow older, though through different biological processes. The claim is, therefore, misleading.
