The danger of older men giving birth
With the development of society and people's pursuit of personal career, it is more and more common for men to marry late and have children late. However, the danger and impact of the elderly male childbearing has gradually attracted people's attention. This article will elaborate on the risks of male elderly childbearing from four aspects: sperm quality, genetic diseases, pregnancy and childbirth risks and mental health.
Decreased sperm quality
As men grow older, sperm quality will decline. The study found that men over 40 years old will have problems such as decreased sperm number, decreased vitality, and increased deformity rate, which have an impact on the possibility of pregnancy and healthy fetuses. For example, a decrease in the number of sperm will lead to a decrease in the pregnancy rate, thereby prolonging the duration of pregnancy. In addition, sperm with weakened vitality is likely to cause difficulty in the implantation of fertilized eggs, increasing the risk of miscarriage. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the influence of the decline of sperm quality on the fertility possibility of elderly men.
A study found that the difference in sperm morphology between the elderly men (over 40 years old) and the normal men (25-35 years old) was particularly obvious. The deformity rate in the normal age group was 2%, while that in the elderly group was nearly 10%. This means that there is a risk of genetic disease transmission in the elderly male fertility.
Increased risk of transmission of genetic diseases
The transmission of genetic diseases is one of the most important risks brought by the aging of men. As men grow older, their sperm DNA quality will decline, which increases the risk of genetic diseases. For example, there is a positive correlation between the father's elderly childbearing and the incidence of autism in children. This is because the male's elderly childbearing is likely to lead to mutations in DNA in sperm, thus affecting the health of offspring.
In addition, there is a risk of chromosomal abnormalities in the elderly male fertility. A study found that fathers over 40 are three times more likely to suffer from intrauterine growth retardation than fathers under 30. This is mainly due to the decline in sperm DNA quality caused by aging, while chromosomal abnormalities may lead to fetal development abnormalities and birth defects.
Increased risk of pregnancy and childbirth
Older men also increase the risk of pregnancy and childbirth for their spouses and fetuses. During pregnancy and childbirth, men as fathers may face the risk of accompanying their spouses. Fathers over 40 years old are more likely to suffer from a series of age-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. These diseases not only affect the pregnancy quality of spouses, but also may lead to poor pregnancy outcomes such as premature delivery and low birth weight infants.
In addition, the elderly male fertility also increases some risks for the fetus. A study found that compared with young fathers, children born to fathers over 40 years old had a 20% and 40% increased risk of congenital heart disease and neural tube defects, respectively. This is because the elderly male fertility is related to chromosome abnormalities, which has triggered a series of problems in the process of fetal development.
Impaired mental health
The elderly childbearing of men may have a negative impact on their mental health. Late childbearing often faces the pressure of parent-child relationship and increased sense of responsibility. They need to balance career and family, and face many challenges in the requirements of children's education. At the same time, older fathers may also face confusion and frustration caused by the large age gap with their children.
In addition, the uncertainty of male elderly childbearing will also lead to psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. Late childbearing faces higher uncertainty of pregnancy success rate and increased risk of abortion, which will increase their psychological burden. Therefore, the elderly childbearing of men may have a certain impact on their mental health.
Summary
There are a series of risks and impacts in the elderly male childbearing, including sperm quality decline, increased risk of genetic disease transmission, increased risk of pregnancy and childbirth, and impaired mental health. With the growth of age, male fertility and fertility quality will gradually decline, thus affecting pregnancy and fetal health. Therefore, men should pay attention to these risks and effects when considering the elderly childbearing, and make wise decisions under the guidance of doctors.
