The effect of male elder childbearing on children's deformity
Male elder childbearing refers to the behavior that men still choose to have children when they are older. However, compared with women, men's reproductive capacity and reproductive health are more vulnerable to the impact of age. Male elder childbearing may lead to a series of child deformities, increasing the risk of children suffering from diseases. The following will discuss the malformation of children caused by male elderly childbearing from the aspects of sperm quality, genetic mutation, free radical damage and mental health.
1. Sperm quality
The old male fertility may lead to the decline of sperm quality, thus increasing the risk of malformation in children. The quality and quantity of male sperm will decrease with age. Studies have shown that children born to older fathers are more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. This is because in the process of sperm formation, the ability of DNA replication and repair will decline, leading to chromosome instability and genetic mutation.
In addition, the quality of DNA in sperm will also be affected by age. In the spermatozoa of old men, DNA may be oxidized and damaged, leading to gene mutation and deformity. These poor quality sperm may be accepted by the fertilized egg and cause some abnormalities in the offspring.
2. Genetic mutation
Older men who give birth will increase the risk of children suffering from genetic diseases. With the increase of age, more genetic mutations may be accumulated in male sperm. The study found that older fathers have a higher risk of genetic diseases than younger fathers. These genetic mutations may be caused by DNA replication errors and repair defects during spermatogenesis.
For example, congenital heart disease is a common genetic disease. Research has found that children of elderly fathers have a relatively high risk of congenital heart disease. Moreover, these genetic mutations may be transmitted in offspring and cause the occurrence of other genetic diseases.
3. Free radical damage
Another reason why the elder male childbearing may lead to the deformity of children is the damage of free radicals. Free radicals are highly active oxidants. When the body lacks enough antioxidants, free radicals will attack the DNA, protein and lipid structures of cells, leading to oxidative damage.
With the growth of age, the antioxidant capacity of men decreases, leading to an increase in the level of free radicals in the body. Therefore, the sperm of the elderly father may contain more oxidants, which may cause damage to the fertilized eggs and embryos and increase the risk of certain abnormalities in children.
4. Mental health
In addition to the biological risks, the elderly male childbearing may also have an impact on children's mental health. Older fathers tend to be more stable in terms of career and economy, but they may have difficulties in communicating and getting along with their children. They may lack the motivation and patience to connect closely with their children, leading to a decline in the closeness of parent-child relationship, which in turn affects children's social and emotional development.
To sum up, childbearing at an advanced age of men will increase the risk of malformations in children. From the perspective of sperm quality, genetic mutation, free radical damage and mental health, old male fertility may have a negative impact on the development and health of children. Therefore, it is suggested that men should fully understand their own reproductive health status when considering childbearing, and make correct decisions under the guidance of doctors.
