Most women don’t need to be reminded that motherhood is limited by a biological clock. It keeps many women awake at night, governs their career and relationship choices, and occupies a large part of their lives. The $819 Million IVF Industry.
But becoming a mature father comes with its own set of risks. New research In the United States, the proportion of fathers who are 50 or older when their children are born is increasing, meaning more children are likely to be affected.
The reasons for this trend are unclear, but Stanford university Urologist Albert Ha and colleagues memo This is often explained by “fewer concerns about men’s ‘biological clocks’ and a lessened desire for education and financial stability before starting a family.”
“Previous research has highlighted the influence of evolving gender norms that promote active parental involvement while also emphasizing men’s traditional roles as ‘breadwinners,’” the authors write. add.
In a world where the focus is usually on mothers, researchers have found that these “Humble but important“There is a lack of risk (APA) for older fathers.
no way 2018 study Using data from over 40 million births in the United States from 2007 to 2016, we identified many of the risks faced by mature fathers.
According to data, babies born to fathers over 35 years of age are at higher risk for adverse outcomes immediately after birth, including low birth weight, seizures, and respiratory distress.
The risk increased with father age. Men over 45 had a 14 percent higher risk of having a baby born prematurely, and men over 50 had a 28 percent higher risk of having a baby admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit.
Ha and colleagues analyzed more than 46 million births reported in the United States from 2011 to 2022. Their cross-sectional study highlights that the proportion of American families affected by these risks is increasing as more men choose to become parents at an older age.
The average father’s age has steadily increased from 30.8 years in 2011 to 32.1 years in 2022, and the proportion of births involving fathers aged 50 or older has increased from 1.1% in 2011 to 1.3% in 2022—a small but significant increase.
“Recent socioeconomic and demographic trends are changing the timeline for family formation in the United States, causing many couples to increasingly postpone parenthood,” Ha and colleagues write. write.
Even after controlling for maternal age and other factors, each 10-year increase in paternal age was associated with an increased rate of births involving assisted reproductive technology (ART). It was also associated with a greater likelihood of first-time mothers and an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight compared to fathers aged 30–39 years.
“Father’s age also influences fertility, course of conception, and child health,” the authors said. write.
“Age-related conditions such as erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism impair paternal fertility, while sperm quantity, motility, and morphology decline with age.”
Studies show that the older the father, the more Decreased sperm qualityThat means the squiggly little packets of genes that make up half of a baby’s DNA are more likely to be affected. DNA fragmentation, Abnormal number of chromosomes, new mutationand epigenetic changes.
“Overall, the accumulation of changes in older men may increase their risk for diseases such as autism and childhood cancer. Aplasiaand schizophrenia; a reduced chance of ART success; and an increased risk of prenatal complications,” the authors said. write.
No significant difference was found in the infant sex ratio by paternal age, but fathers aged 70 or older were more likely to have female children.
Ultimately, this study highlights the need for improved awareness of the risks associated with becoming a mature father and further investigation into the factors that facilitate this societal change.
This study was published by: JAMA Network Open.
