Men are affected by the biological clock as well, researchers find

Women aged under 30 with a male partner aged 40 to 42 saw chance of live birth after IVF fall to 46% from 73% for men aged 30 to 35

For men who are reluctant to start a family, it is an age-old defence: there is no need to rush into fatherhood, as Des O'Connor, Luciano Pavarotti and countless rock stars have proved when they had children well after they qualified for their bus passes.

But men, just like women, can wait too long, doctors warn. A new study reveals that a couple's chances of having a baby fall with the man's age, to the point that it can have a substantial impact on their ability to start a family.