Father’s age a factor in miscarriage

INFERTILITY doctors found that miscarriage rates increased significantly when the prospective father was older than 35, while pregnancy rates dropped after the age of 40.

It is the first time paternal age has been seen to have such a strong effect on reproductive success.

Study leader Dr Stephanie Belloc, from the Eylau Centre for Assisted Reproduction in Paris, said: “Until now, gynaecologists only focused on maternal age and the message was to get pregnant before the age of 35 or 38 because afterwards it would be difficult.