Introduction: What to do with older prospective fathers: the risks of advanced paternal age.
Increasing numbers of men are attempting conception at older ages. Adverse changes in male fertility and sexual function occur with age. In addition, there are potential consequences for children born to older fathers-some medical and some psychological. This month's Views and Reviews section discusses the biologic changes in reproductive function, medical conditions that increase with age that affect reproductive function, the risks to children of older fathers, genetic mechanisms responsible for these risks, and issues clinicians should know to be able to counsel these couples.
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and the Miriam and Rhode Island Hospitals, Providence, Rhode Island. Electronic address: mark_sigman@brown.edu.
Mark
M
Sigman
D000367:Age Factors; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010331:Paternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D060728:Reproductive Health; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome