Any family can have a child with a birth defect. A meta-analysis of 25 studies spanning 9 African countries found that the prevalence of birth defects was roughly 20 per 1,000 births. The figure observed in the southern African region was slightly higher at 43 per 1,000 births.
The factors that can lead to birth defects are diverse. Drug intake, chronic diseases, and lack of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy have all been linked with birth defects. However, several studies have shown that the chances of birthing a child with birth defects increase with the father’s age.
Due to socioeconomic challenges, limited access to healthcare, and lack of awareness, Black men are not visiting healthcare practitioners as frequently as our white counterparts as we age. Sadly, we already have many age-related and general ailments that are undiagnosed which tend to heighten our risk of birthing children with birth defects as we age.
A 2021 estimated median age of Americans at their first wedding showed that Black men and women had the highest median age (33 and 32 respectively) compared to other racial groups. Both the child with the defects and the family share in the burden; from higher attention demands to increased cost of training. So, just because a man is capable of birthing a child at any age doesn’t mean you should.
Birth defect risk increases when the father hits 35
A study published by Eisenberg in 2017 suggested that the chances of birth defects are slightly increased once the father reaches 35 years. According to the study, every year that a man ages, he accumulates an average of two new mutations in his sperm’s DNA. The increase in the risk of birth defects was sharper for children born to parents above 44 years.
Based on the median age observed in 2021, only the first one or two births by a Black man who got married at 33 will be done before 35. That means their subsequent births will have higher risks of having congenital defects.
Sadly, the number of older men (including Black men) becoming fathers after 40 years is on the rise. Four decades ago, only 4 percent of infants were born to fathers above 40 years. In 2018, that number had jumped to 10 percent.
How is advancement in age associated with birth defects?
There’s extensive research on pregnancy complications based on maternal age but not enough on paternal age and birth defects. Nevertheless, there is a scientific reason why infants born to older men have an increased risk of birth defects.
Unlike women who are born with all the eggs they can have in their lifetime, new sperm cells are made in a man every 16 days through the replication and division of old cells. By the time the man reaches age 20, the sperm cells must have gone through around 150 replication and division cycles.
By age 50, the sperm cells would have gone through over 800 replication and division cycles. Mutation can be introduced during the replication of sperm cells. The chances of these mutations are worsened by the exposure of the man to stress, chemicals, toxins, and radiations that can modify the genetic makeup of the sperm cells (collectively called mutagens).
Older fathers will pass more of these mutations to the infant. Thankfully, most of the mutations are harmless but some eventually manifest as birth defects. Men do have biological clocks too—although not as strict as that of women. So, if you are delaying fatherhood you need to be aware of the consequences which may include:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Studies have shown that children born to older fathers (typically above 40) have an increased risk of developing autism, likely linked to mutations in the father’s sperm DNA.
- Schizophrenia: There is evidence suggesting the older paternal age increases the risk of schizophrenia.
- Down Syndrome: Although commonly linked to maternal age, several studies now suggest advanced paternal age may increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities leading to Down Syndrome. However, the effect is not as pronounced as with older mothers.
- Congenital Heart Defects: Some studies have shown that older fathers may contribute to a slightly higher risk of congenital heart defects in their children.
- Cleft Lip or Palate: Research has reported increased risk of birth defects like cleft lip and palate in children born to older fathers, linked to genetic mutations that affect the development of facial structures during pregnancy.
Why Black men are fathering children at older age
The truth is that many Black men are better involved in parenting and desire to have children at a younger age but are often held back by factors that are not their making. Here are some of the factors leading older Black men to become fathers for the first time above 35 years.
1. Academic or career pursuit
While the dropout rate of Black males in the United States is still one of the higher, more adult males in our community are now striving for academic or career excellence and often hold off fathering children to limit distractions to their goals.
2. Financial insecurity
In a society where our people still find it difficult to get executive positions and are often limited to low-paying jobs, financial insecurity is always a looming threat. Many men would delay fathering children until their finances improved.
3. Finding the right partner
The 2020 U.S. divorce data showed the divorce rate declined from 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 2.4 per 1,000 in 2022. Part of the reason could be linked to the fact that men are now taking more time to find a partner with whom they’ll be happy for longer.
Fathering a child at an older age doesn’t mean the child will automatically develop birth defects. However, it increases the risk of having a child with birth complications. Is that a risk that you are willing to take? It is always important to consult your healthcare provider or a genetic counselor to properly ascertain your risks.
For more reading
https://panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/36/19/full
https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2017/08/fathers-of-american-newborns-keep-getting-older.html
https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pd.5402
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028216630911
https://divorce.com/blog/divorce-statistics
