Overview
- Synthesizing biological, behavioral and social evidence, the review links paternal smoking, alcohol use, obesity, age, medications and mental health to fertility, pregnancy outcomes and children’s longer-term health.
- Cited studies reported a roughly 35% higher birth‑defect risk with paternal preconception drinking, higher autism risk with fathers about 45 or older, and a ~42% higher chance of depression in children of fathers with depression.
- The authors call for including men and partners in preconception guidelines and care, with greater education and access to men’s health services.
- Studies associated active partner support—such as attending prenatal visits and providing emotional help—with healthier maternal behaviors and lower maternal depression and anxiety.
- Researchers stress that most evidence is observational; experts dispute estimates of global sperm‑count declines, and a companion effort (iCIPHE) proposes core indicators to improve preconception health monitoring.