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STANFORD, Calif. — Since men don’t have the same biological clocks that women have, a new study finds that many are waiting longer and longer to start a family — some waiting until their 50s before fathering children. Despite being able to have children, researchers at Stanford University say this growing trend is raising new concerns about the child’s health and their future.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed over 46 million U.S. births from 2011 to 2022. What they found might surprise you: the number of babies born to fathers aged 50 and above is on the rise, challenging our stereotypes about who these older dads really are.
Contrary to popular belief, these silver-haired fathers aren’t all wealthy executives or celebrities. The study reveals a diverse group spanning various racial backgrounds and education levels. From college professors to blue-collar workers, the face of older fatherhood is changing.
However, it’s not just about who these dads are – it’s also about the potential impacts on their children. The research suggests that babies born to fathers over 50 face slightly higher risks of premature birth and low birth weight. While these increased risks are modest, they do raise important questions about the effects of delayed fatherhood on child health.
Perhaps most intriguingly, the study found that the oldest fathers – those 70 and above – were less likely to have boys. This unexpected finding adds a new twist to our understanding of how paternal age might influence offspring.
Another key finding is the increased use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) among older fathers. As men age, they’re more likely to need a little help from science to become dads. This trend highlights the growing importance of fertility treatments in modern family planning.
The study also revealed that older fathers are more likely to have children with first-time mothers over the age of 25. This suggests a shift in family dynamics, with more couples choosing to start families later in life.
“These ongoing societal shifts underscore the need for public education and further research into the benefits and drawbacks of delayed fatherhood,” the study authors write in their report.
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers used data from the National Vital Statistics System, which collects information from all U.S. birth certificates. They looked at various factors, including the father’s age, race, education, and the mother’s characteristics. They also examined birth outcomes like premature birth and birth weight. To account for missing data, they used a statistical technique called inverse probability weighting.
Key Results
The percentage of births to fathers 50 and older increased from 1.1% in 2011 to 1.3% in 2022. Older fathers were more racially diverse and had varying education levels.
Babies born to older fathers had slightly higher risks of premature birth and low birth weight. The use of assisted reproductive technology was much higher among older fathers. Fathers 70 and older were less likely to have male children.
Study Limitations
The study relied on birth certificate data, which might not capture all relevant information. Also, while the researchers controlled for many factors, other unmeasured influences could affect the results. The study couldn’t determine cause-and-effect relationships, only associations.
Discussion & Takeaways
This research challenges stereotypes about older fathers and highlights the need for more public education on delayed parenthood. While there are potential risks associated with older fatherhood, there may also be benefits like financial stability and emotional maturity. The findings underscore the importance of considering paternal age in family planning discussions and medical care.
Funding & Disclosures
The study was conducted by researchers at Stanford University. One of the researchers, Dr. Michael L. Eisenberg, reported serving as a consultant for several companies in the fertility industry. This information is important for transparency, allowing readers to consider any potential conflicts of interest.
Wow, not much real effect on the child’s health at all. Article mostly covers minor problem ? with men ? fertility : Viagra ? Vitamins? more baby girls ? What’s the problem ? Now low birth weight and premature births seem a mother issue hear, were any correlations discussed about the average age of mothers married to these older fathers ? I’ll bet the mothers are older than the average for sure, further I’ll bet lower birth weights and premature birth are more common in older mothers. Not much here folks.
The free market will provide
This is nothing new. In Victorian times men often waited until they were financially secure before marrying and starting families. Dickens is full of older men married to young women.
I have a good friend who became a father for the first time at 53 and a second time a couple of years later. Both sons were strong and healthy and grew up to have successful careers. My friend died two years ago at age 95. He became a grandfather for the first time at 93. If a man has the financial whererwithal, why not?
Whats the average age of the mother in this study?
Well of course. People are so silly and never see consequences. All the silliness with trying to return to the 50’s with Trad wives and all that nonsense. You can’t go back. It’s very simple, people during that time period for instance were married, having kids and in the job market. How? Why? The economy sure, but this is very important, YOU WERE CONSIDERED AN ADULT AND TREATED LIKE ONE AT 21yrs of age. There has been an infantilizing of people during the whole 20th century culminating into today and still going. Easier population to control but you’re going to have some side effects.
If you tell people they are children and treat them as such and allow them to be as such at the ages they were formerly treated as adults with responsibility you’re going to have consequences. Anyone in their teens are considered and treated as kids in the age range of 8 – 12 previously. Especially in the U.S. you are considered, treated and called a kid until your 30s. 30’s you’re a young adult with your whole life ahead of you. The culture and economy helps. No consequences for sex/pregnancy/childbirth, the economy requires you focus on working or still living with mom and dad. And adults playing video games, reading comic books, watching cartoons,playing with toys and action figures and watching movies based on them is normal.
Go on name a big movie or TV show even if it’s a flop that’s not based on: A set of movies their creator admitted was for children, a comic book and it’s characters, a video game and it’s characters, a cartoon and it’s characters. Go on. We’ll wait. And this behavior is encouraged and the economy exacerbates it.
Why wouldn’t you wait until your 50s if you felt any responsibility and self preservation at all if you decided to do it at all because it really isn’t worth it unless you just really want a child and adoption is out of the question for some reason. And there are enough single mothers to go around for an instant family so.
And ironically what’s happening is many people are having children under 50, way under 50. The irresponsible, through the usual: accident, not caring not preparing, rape and incest the unmentionables, and subsidizing of irresponsible behavior by the government. The lowest of the low. The worst among us. Who can never see past their genitals like the stray dogs down the street or alley cats. It’s actually funny. The controllers and their government have financed and finagled their own problem and are reaping what they have sowed. Garbage. It’s to laugh. Oh they will have their slave population, it just won’t look and be as they wanted. Mostly.
Looking at the result without looking at the cause. So the study finds that more women of child bearing age (25-35) are choosing to enter into higher rates of relationships with men over 50 than ever before. This is resulting in higher rates of childhood for men 50-70 years old with women under 35.
So why are more women choosing older men vs their own age? Other findings here have shown that somewhere in the ballpark of 70% of men under 30 are single. More of them don’t want children then every before. Nearly half still live with their parents. They’re largely unmotivated, no longer feel like men should be providers or “alpha males”, and have online social networks nearly 1000x bigger than their real life networks. Within this group of younger me 40% have considered suicide in the last 2 weeks and 35% total have given up even looking for a woman.
Traditional relationship dynamics remain. Women are choosing men with older fashioned qualities. This push for younger men to be softer and more feminine, less dominant, less focused on being breadwinners, less focused on everything.. doesn’t work.
Men can do that.
Women can’t.
Surprise! Surprise!
I fathered a son last year at 51 years of age. The only issue I’ve noticed is strangers confusing me for his grandfather, who happens to be 76 and in good health.