Abstract
BackgroundMany studies have considered maternal age as a determinant factor for success in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), but the potential role of paternal age on neonatal outcomes has been overlooked. This study aimed to explore the association between paternal age and birthweight in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles.MethodsThis retrospective study involved singleton live births born to women undergoing frozen embryo transfer from January 2013 to December 2017 at a tertiary care center in Shanghai, China. The paternal age was classified into four categories: ≤ 30, 31–35, 36–40, and ≥ 41 years. The group consisting of respondents with paternal age of 31–35 was set as the reference group. Singleton birthweight was the primary outcome measure. Z-scores were calculated according to gestational age and newborn gender on birthweight based on the national birthweight reference. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to reveal the relationship between paternal age and newborns’ birthweight after considering several potential confounders.ResultsExactly 9765 women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled. No significant difference was found on mean birthweight (P = 0.082) and gestation-adjusted Z-scores (P = 0.569) among paternal age categories. The reference group and the group with aged 36–40 years had the highest mean birthweight and Z-scores, respectively (3350.2 ± 467.8 g, 0.36 ± 1.00). A decline in mean birthweight with paternal age was observed, and the group over 40 years had the lowest value of 3309.4 ± 474.3 g, but the difference was not statistically significant. In multivariate analyses, the adjusted odds of very low birthweight (LBW), LBW, and high birthweight in the reference group did not significantly differ with the three other groups. After correcting several potential confounders, no significant correlation was observed between paternal age and neonatal birthweight (P = 0.289).ConclusionPaternal age was not associated with mean birthweight and gestational age- and gender-adjusted birthweight (Z-scores) of singletons among women who became pregnant in FET cycles.
Highlights
Many studies have considered maternal age as a determinant factor for success in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), but the potential role of paternal age on neonatal outcomes has been overlooked
Our study found that paternal age is not associated with mean birthweight and gestational ageand gender-adjusted birthweight (Z-scores) of singletons in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles, showing chances of successful pregnancy in couples over 40 years of age have improved
Significant differences were demonstrated based on the comparison among paternal age categories on maternal age (P < 0.001), maternal body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001), paternal education (P < 0.001), maternal education (P < 0.001), infertility cause (P < 0.001), infertility duration (P < 0.001), parity (P < 0.001), FET cycle rank (P < 0.001), FET endometrial preparation (P < 0.001), endometrial thickness (P < 0.001), fertilization method (P < 0.001), embryo developmental stage at transfer (P = 0.003) and delivery mode (P < 0.001)
Summary
Many studies have considered maternal age as a determinant factor for success in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), but the potential role of paternal age on neonatal outcomes has been overlooked. This study aimed to explore the association between paternal age and birthweight in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Many studies have considered maternal age as a determinant factor for success in ART [1,2,3], but the potential role of paternal age on neonatal outcomes has been overlooked. The birthweight of singleton newborns is closely associated with mother’s physical condition in vitrified-warmed transfer cycles, such as endometrial thickness [13], the number of oocytes retrieved [14], maternal age [15], and body mass index (BMI) [16]. Limited information is available about the effect of paternal age on singleton newborns’ birthweight in vitrified-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles
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