What are the effects of male elder childbearing on infants?
Male elder childbearing refers to that men can still have healthy children at a later age (generally over 40 years old). Although the female reproductive age has always been the focus of attention, the male age also has a certain impact on the health of infants. In the following, we will elaborate on the impact of male elderly childbearing on infants from four aspects: reproductive capacity, genetic risk, reproductive health, and father's role.
Reproductive capacity
On the one hand, as men grow older, their testicular function gradually declines, and the quality and quantity of semen will decrease, thus affecting the success rate of pregnancy. Studies have shown that the sperm activity, morphology and concentration of elderly men have decreased, reducing the chance of pregnancy.
On the other hand, the elderly male fertility will also increase the risk of birth defects and genetic diseases. Because male sperm is produced continuously, in this process, sperm gene quality may be damaged accumulatively, leading to an increased risk of genetic variation. Therefore, children of older male fathers are more likely to suffer from genetic diseases.
In addition, the elderly male fertility is also associated with a higher abortion rate. The study found that compared with young fathers, the spouses of older fathers are more likely to have abortions, which may be related to the decline in the quality and stability of male germ cells.
Genetic risk
There is also a certain correlation between the risk of chromosomal abnormalities and the elderly male fertility. With the increase of age, the probability of chromosome abnormalities in sperm will also increase. The most common chromosomal abnormality is Down syndrome related to intellectual development, and the risk of this disease is also significantly increased in older male children. In addition, there are some other chromosomal abnormalities, such as Klinefelter syndrome and Turner syndrome, which are also related to the elderly male fertility.
However, it is worth noting that the risk of newborn mutation of male sperm is relatively low. Neogenetic mutations refer to genetic diseases without family history, which are mainly caused by gene variations in sperm. Unlike women, older men do not significantly increase the probability of new mutations.
reproductive health
Male elder childbearing is also related to reproductive health problems. With the increase of age, the testicular function of men gradually declines, which may lead to the decline of sex hormone levels and erectile dysfunction. These problems will not only affect the male fertility, but also may have a certain impact on the development of infants.
In addition, male elder childbearing is also related to children's physical health and intellectual development. Studies have shown that children of older fathers are at increased risk of suffering from neurodevelopmental problems such as autism, schizophrenia and cerebral palsy. This may be related to gene mutation and DNA damage in male sperm.
Father role
Older male childbearing also affects the father's physical and mental health, and thus their role in the growth of children. Older fathers may face higher psychological pressure, anxiety and depression, which may have a certain impact on father son relationship and family harmony.
In general, the impact of male elderly childbearing on infants is complex and diverse. From reproductive capacity, genetic risk, reproductive health to the role of father, the old age of men may have a certain impact on the health, development and family relations of infants. Therefore, it is very important for men to understand their own fertility and risks, reasonably plan their childbearing age, and pay attention to the maintenance of reproductive health and mental health.
