A new Stanford University study suggests that the “biological clock” also applies to men. Researchers found that advanced paternal age is linked to higher risks such as premature birth and low birth weight. Babies with fathers aged 45 or older faced a 14% greater chance of being born prematurely and an 18% higher risk of seizures compared to those with fathers aged 25–34. In addition, mothers with older partners had a 34% higher likelihood of developing gestational diabetes.
Paternal Age Has Impact, but Risks Remain Relatively Low
If you’ve chosen to wait, there’s no need to lose hope. “In recent years, research has shown that paternal age can affect pregnancy, though not as significantly as maternal age,” says Dr. Paulo Gallo of Vida – Fertility Center in Rio de Janeiro. “The statistics may make the issue seem more serious than it truly is.” He adds: “For instance, the risk of prematurity for any pregnant woman in Brazil is between 5% and 10%.”
The study points out that when the father is over 45, the risk rises by 14%. In practical terms, this means it goes from 5%–10% to about 5.7%–11.4%. For gestational diabetes, the baseline risk for pregnant women is 15%. Although having a father over 45 raises this risk by 34%, in real numbers it increases only from 15% to around 20%—a relatively modest change.
Read the original article on: Gq Globo
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