- Title
- Delayed fatherhood
- Creator
- Lawson, Gerald; Fletcher, Richard
- Relation
- Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care Vol. 40, Issue 4, p. 283-288
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jfprhc-2013-100866
- Publisher
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2014
- Description
- Birth data from developed countries indicates that the average paternal age is increasing. As the trend to older fatherhood has become established, concerns have been raised that this may be linked to adverse outcomes, such as pregnancy complications, congenital anomalies, and long-term health implications for the child. Since the sperm of older fathers may be impaired due to the general effects of ageing, their offspring may be at risk due to defects in sperm quality at conception. A literature search was performed to identify pregnancy complications, fetal anomalies and health issues for the child when the father is in an older age bracket. Evidence for impairment in the sperm and genetic material of older fathers was reviewed. With an older father, there is evidence of an increase in stillbirths and a slightly increased risk of autism, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in the offspring later in life. The increased risk of achondroplasia has long been recognised. For the mother, there is an increased rate of Caesarean section. Investigations of other possible adverse outcomes have produced mixed findings. Further robust and longitudinal studies are needed to clarify these issues.
- Subject
- adverse outcomes; older fathers; developed countries; pregnancy complications
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1305909
- Identifier
- uon:21131
- Identifier
- ISSN:1471-1893
- Language
- eng
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