Advanced paternal age might be associated with a slightly higher risk of pregnancy loss before week 20 of pregnancy (miscarriage) or stillbirth. Rare birth defects. Older paternal age might slightly increase the risk of certain rare birth defects, including defects in the development of the skull, limbs and heart.

Can an older man's sperm cause birth defects?

As men get older, their sperm deteriorates, a new study has found, and it is likely that the damaged sperm of older men is a significant factor in certain specific birth defects and in increasing the risk of abnormal pregnancies.

Should we be worried about advanced paternal age?

Advancing age has differential effects on DNA damage, chromatin integrity, gene mutations, and aneuploidies in sperm. ), and it could potentially be an explanation for why segmental changes affect the paternal chromosomes at older ages.