Paternal age and perinatal outcomes: an observational study.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive medicine and perinatal epidemiology.
• Investigating the impact of parental age on pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Background:

• Paternal age is an increasingly recognized factor in reproductive health.
• Understanding the influence of paternal age on perinatal outcomes is crucial for comprehensive prenatal care and counseling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between paternal age and a range of perinatal outcomes.
• To determine if advanced paternal age influences conception methods, delivery modes, pregnancy complications, or neonatal health.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of live singleton births from two hospital birth registries (2010-2022).
• Paternal age was the primary exposure variable.
• Outcomes assessed included mode of conception, delivery, pregnancy complications, and neonatal status.

Main Results:

• Advanced paternal age correlated with lower odds of spontaneous conception and higher odds of intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
• Paternal age was associated with decreased odds of any and urgent/emergent cesarean delivery.
• No significant effect of paternal age was observed on gestation length, placental or neonatal weight, blood loss, or Apgar scores.

Conclusions:

• Paternal age demonstrates a significant association with specific perinatal outcomes, including conception and delivery methods.
• The findings underscore the need to incorporate paternal age into reproductive counseling and prenatal care strategies.