World J Mens Health.
2021 Oct;39(4):626-644. 10.5534/wjmh.200147.
Anything New about Paternal Contribution to Reproductive Outcomes? A Review of the Evidence
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Medical Direction, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy
- 2Department of Midwifery, Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland
- 3Research Centre for Food and Nutrition-CREA, Rome, Italy
- 4Predictive and Preventive Medicine Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- 5Directorate General for Preventive Health - Office 9, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy
- 6Department of Surgery, Odontostomatology and Maternal and Child Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- KMID: 2519905
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.200147
Abstract
- Paternal health and behavioral lifestyles affect reproductive and neonatal outcomes and yet the magnitude of these effects remain underestimated. Even though these impacts have been formally recognized as a central aspect of reproductive health, health care services in Europe often neglect the involvement of fathers in their reproductive programs. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for systematic reviews, a literature search was carried out to assess the possible impact of paternal health on reproductive outcomes. The comprehensive strategy included cohort studies and meta-analysis available on PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google scholar. Crossreferencing of bibliographies of the selected papers ensured wider study capture. Paternal factors were grouped into two categories respectively identified with the terms “Biological Paternal Factors” and “Lifestyle Paternal Factors”. Advanced age may impair male fertility and affect early pregnancy stages. Increased body mass index, smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs, all alter seminal fluid parameters. Hazardous alcohol use correlates with low birthweight in pregnancy and harmful behavioral lifestyles have been linked to congenital heart defects, metabolic and neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring. Measures targeting paternal health and lifestyle within the first 1,000 days’ timeframe need to be implemented in couples undergoing reproductive decisions. Health professionals, as well as future fathers, must be aware of the benefits for the offspring associated with correct paternal behaviors. More research is needed to build guidelines and to implement specific programs aiming at reproductive health promotion.
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