Does the elder male fertility increase the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities
With the development of society and the improvement of people's living standards, more and more men choose to marry later and have children later. However, it has been controversial whether the elderly male fertility will increase the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. This article will discuss this issue from the aspects of age, quality of germ cells, risk of chromosomal abnormalities in pregnant women and medical assisted reproductive technology.
Age factor
Male reproductive function declines with age. Research shows that after the age of 40, the sperm vitality, sperm density and sperm number begin to decline, and sperm gene quality will also be damaged to some extent. This means that the elderly male fertility may increase the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.
In addition, the risk of DNA damage and mutation will also be increased when men are old enough to give birth. The sperm DNA of old men is prone to hypomodification, oxidative damage and mutation, which may lead to abnormal embryonic development and chromosome abnormalities. Therefore, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities is higher in children born to older men.
Germ cell quality
The old age of male fertility may lead to the decline of the quality of germ cells, thereby increasing the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. With age, male germ cells may accumulate more DNA damage, which will affect the quality of sperm. Poor quality of germ cells will directly affect the development of embryos, which may lead to chromosomal abnormalities.
In addition, the chromosome structure in the germ cell may also be damaged. Age will lead to irregular cross between chromosomes, which will increase the possibility of wrong separation and eventually lead to chromosomal abnormalities.
Risk of chromosomal abnormalities in pregnant women
Older males also increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in pregnant women, which in turn affects the chromosomal normality of the fetus. The growth rate of male age is different from that of female fertility. When men are old and women are young, they will bear more risks of chromosomal abnormalities, because the quality of female eggs is also affected by age factors. Therefore, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities may be further increased by the elderly male fertility.
In addition, older men may also increase the risk of pregnant women suffering from gestational diabetes and pregnancy induced hypertension. These diseases may affect the chromosome normality of the fetus, thus leading to the existence of chromosome abnormalities.
Medical assisted reproductive technology
Medical assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo implantation, is often used in the elderly male reproduction. These technologies may screen and detect genes in sperm and embryos, thereby reducing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities.
In addition, medical assisted reproductive technology can also help to select healthier sperm and embryos and reduce the presence of chromosomal abnormalities. By selecting better quality sperm and embryos, the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities can be reduced.
Summary
Older men will increase the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. The main reasons include the decline in the quality of germ cells caused by age factors, the abnormal structure of chromosomes in germ cells, the increased risk of affecting the normal sex of chromosomes in pregnant women, and the medical assisted reproductive technology, which is commonly used in elderly childbearing. Therefore, the male elderly child-bearing should consult the doctor in advance to understand the related risks, and choose appropriate medical assisted reproduction methods to reduce the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.
