Published in:
01-11-2014 | Assisted Reproduction Technologies
The effect of father’s age in fertile, subfertile, and assisted reproductive technology pregnancies: A population based cohort study
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 11/2014
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Purpose
To compare ages of mothers and of fathers at delivery in couples who are fertile, subfertile, and subfertile treated with assisted reproductive technology (ART) and to characterize birth outcomes in the ART population according to paternal age.
Methods
Live birth deliveries in Massachusetts between July, 2004 and December, 2008 were identified from vital records and categorized by maternal fertility status and treatment as ART, subfertile or fertile. The ART births were linked to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System (SART CORS) database to obtain cycle-specific treatment data. Parental ages were obtained from birth certificates. Age of mothers and fathers were compared using ANOVA for continuous measures and χ
2 for categories. Risks of prematurity (<37 weeks), low birthweight (<2,500 g), and low birthweight z-score (small for gestatational age, SGA) were modeled using logistic regression by categories of paternal age as adjusted odds ratios and 95 % CI.
Results
The study population included 9,092 ART, 6,238 subfertile, and 318,816 fertile deliveries. Paternal ages in the ART and subfertile groups were similar and differed significantly from those of the fertile group. Maternal age in the ART and subfertile groups averaged 5–6 years older than their fertile counterparts and fathers averaged 4–5 years older with twice as many being older than 37. The risks for prematurity, low birthweight and SGA did not increase with increasing paternal age.
Conclusions
Fathers in ART- treated and subfertile couples are older than in their fertile counterparts. Older paternal age was not assoicated with increased risk for prematurity, low birthweight, or SGA.