imageNew study reveals risks to offspring of delaying fatherhood.

Being in the ‘over 35′ age group and childless, I am constantly being reminded by ‘concerned’ male friends that ‘there is a time-limit, you know’, or being ‘kindly’ told that the alarm bells on my body clock should really have started ringing by now.

And when we get to the ‘over 45′ age group doctors say they don’t recommend us to have a baby now. The risks, they say.

Well, gentlemen, it seems that time may be of the essence for you, too; according to a new and pretty extensive study, children of older fathers are at more risk of a number of conditions including autism, bipolar disorder and ADHD.

Children of older fathers are also more likely to have a lower IQ and do worse at school, display suicidal behaviours or have problems with drugs.

The research, by Indiana University in the US and Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, looked at more than 2.6 million babies born to 1.4 million men in Sweden between 1973 and 2001.

The results showed that children born to men over 45 are 13 times more likely to have ADHD, compared to children born to 24 year-old fathers.

They are also 25 times more likely to have bipolar disorder, three times as likely to be autistic, two and a half times more likely to have suicidal tendencies or drug dependency and to generally achieve lower scores in school.

The study, published online in JAMA Psychiatry, certainly challenges the idea that sperm is timeless.

Men often seem content with the notion that they can reproduce whenever they like, and it’s the age of their partner that really matters, but Dr Allan Pacey, fertility expert at the University of Sheffield, said men should have children as young as possible.

“This is the biggest and most comprehensive study of its kind and it really highlights that there is a time limit for dads on when they should have their children.

“Men don’t have the menopause, they don’t stop their ability to have children as they age, but what we do see is their partners struggle to get pregnant and have more miscarriages and they increase the risk of their children having a range of problems.

“I think the changes start to take place when a man gets to 40, you start to notice detectable differences in his offspring.

“My advice would be that if you are in a position to have your family early then do it, even if you want to wait a bit longer. Nature wants you to have children early.”

Dr Brian D’Onofrio, one of the researchers on the study, said he was shocked by the findings.

“The implications of the study is that delaying childbearing is also associated with increased risk for psychiatric and academic problems in the offspring.

“The study adds to a growing body of research, that suggests families, doctors, and society as a whole must consider both the pros and cons of delaying childbearing.”

He believes that as a man ages, he is more likely to produce sperm with genetic mutations.

It is established fact that as women get older, their eggs are more susceptible to mutations that can cause disorders such as Down’s Syndrome, so it’s not surprising if the same applies to men.

There have already been studies that have also shown a link to older fathers and the increased likelihood of autism and other disorders.

In 2012, Dr Kari Stefansson of Decode Genetics, who led research into the subject, said: “Society has been very focused on the age of the mother.

“But apart from [Down's Syndrome] it seems that disorders such as schizophrenia and autism are influenced by the age of the father and not the mother.”

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority doesn’t acceptsperm donations from men over 41.

Granted, men could still have a few years on us, but will they feel the same pressure to procreate before the blackout descends?

Will other men look at their childless peers over 45 with pity? Perhaps suggesting that they will never know what it is to be truly fulfilled in their lifetime?

As their 45th birthday looms, will we see men ‘of a certain age’ stereotyped as desperate and baby-obsessed? Perhaps trying to ‘accidentally’ get someone pregnant before their sperm takes a turn for the worse?

Somehow I doubt it. But it would be nice to see responsibility for a baby’s health and wellbeing placed equally with fathers and mothers.

Leggi tutto... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WomensViewsOnNews/~3/AEHTWilvbsM/