Paternal Age and Birth Defects

Advanced maternal age is associated with chromosomal abnormalities, and advanced paternal age is associated with de novo mutations. Researchers used data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry to examine the association between paternal age and selected birth defects.

In analyses adjusted for maternal age, fathers aged 20 to 24 had a significantly higher risk for offspring with gastroschisis than fathers aged 25 to 29, and fathers aged 40 and older had a significantly lower risk for offspring with trisomy 13. No association was observed between paternal age and risk for anencephaly or encephalocele. Analysis of other birth defects was limited by sample size.