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............................... By Dr Tim Moss
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ROUND 90% OF AUSTRALIAN MALES BECOME FATHERS. THAT MAKES FATHERHOOD FOR AUSTRALIAN MEN MORE LIKELY THAN DRIVING A CAR, FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL OR WORKING FULL-TIME. DESPITE THE HIGH PROBABILITY OF EVENTUALLY BECOMING A DAD, THERE’S NOT A LOT OF EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROVIDED TO PREPARE BOYS AND MEN FOR THIS CRITICAL ROLE. THIS MEANS WE MISS OPPORTUNITIES TO FULLY INCLUDE FATHERS IN THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTHOOD AND PERHAPS DENY THEM THE CHANCE TO MAKE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN.
There’s a long list of health issues that affect men before they become fathers: which can affect their fertility, their partners’ pregnancy and the health of their children. Men and boys deserve to know about these things so they can begin to take responsibility for the wellbeing of their future children.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A father’s age doesn’t have as much of an effect on fertility as a mother’s age but it’s still important. A couple’s chances of getting pregnant start to decline once fathers are in their late 30s, and the infertility rate for couples goes up as the male partner’s age increases over about 40. A father’s age also influences the outcome of his partner’s pregnancy, with higher rates of stillbirth and preterm birth for fathers aged over 40 years compared to younger fathers. There’s a slightly stronger effect of a father’s increased age on the increased likelihood of their children being diagnosed with autism or schizophrenia. There’s no proven way to reverse these effects of aging, which are caused by changes to the DNA in sperm that accumulate over time. However, it is possible to avoid the things that cause these types of changes. 44 Peninsula Kids – Spring 2025
In Australia, the average age of first-time fathers is 33 years. By this age, more than 98% of Australian males do not eat enough fruit and vegetables each day, 60% do not do enough physical activity, more than half are overweight or obese, almost half drink alcohol at risky levels, and 10-15% smoke tobacco or vape.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DIET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A diet that is high in fat and sugar, and low in fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish and dairy, is associated with low sperm quality, which has negative effects on fertility. Fathers who have unhealthy diets before conception are more likely to have children with obesity and metabolic disease than fathers with healthy diets.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBESITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obesity reduces male fertility. When conception does occur, the risk of preterm birth is increased and negative effects on child health are more common than for fathers without obesity. Rates of type 2 diabetes are higher for men with obesity than for men with a healthy weight, and diabetes increases the risk of infertility and pregnancy loss for their partners.