Men have a biological clock too: Read details from a study

New Delhi : A study has found that the men who chose to start their family in late 30s may end up risking the health of their partners and children.

The findings from the study have been published in the journal, Maturitas.

The study reviewed 40 years of research on the effect of parental age on fertility, pregnancy and the health of children.

"While it is widely accepted that physiological changes that occur in women after 35 can affect conception, pregnancy and the health of the child, most men do not realize their advanced age can have a similar impact," said Gloria Bachmann, the lead author of the research.

While experts from the medical background have not clearly accepted the age when advanced paternal age begins, it ranges from 35 to 45.

The study found that men who are 45 and above can experience decreased fertility and put their partners at risk for increasing pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and preterm birth. 

Infants born to older fathers were found to be at higher risk of premature birth, late stillbirth, low Apgar scores, low birth weight, higher incidence of newborn seizures and birth defects such as congenital heart disease and cleft palate.

It has also been learned that the kids born to old fathers may have childhood cancers, psychiatric and cognitive disorders, and autism when they step into their adulthood.

"In addition to advancing paternal age being associated with an increased risk of male infertility, there appear to be other adverse changes that may occur to the sperm with ageing. For example, just as people lose muscle strength, flexibility and endurance with age, in men, sperm also tends to lose ‘fitness’ over the life cycle," she said.

The ageing stress can also damage the quality and quantity of sperms. "In addition to decreasing fertilization potential, this can also influence the pregnancy itself, as is noted by increased pregnancy risks when conception is successful,” she said. 

These germline or heredity mutations also may contribute to the association of advancing paternal age and disorders in the offspring, such as these children being diagnosed with autism and schizophrenia.

“Although it is well documented that children of older fathers are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia one in 141 infants with fathers under 25 versus one in 47 with fathers over 50 the reason is not well understood,” she said.

The study also found that older men struggled with fertility issues even if their partner was under 25.