New studies, however, have broadened this idea, showing that the blame for some problems in fetal development can also be placed on the father. A male's lifestyle, such as the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs, as well as exposure to certain industrial chemicals, has been shown to affect characteristics of sperm cells in ways that harm the fetus. Recently, there has been much emphasis on a birth defect called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This defect results when a mother drinks during pregnancy, causing malformation in the development of the fetus. This does not mean, however, that the baby isn't affected by its father's drinking.
Alcohol consumed by the male can lead to a variety of problems in the reproductive system.
Unlike females, whose eggs are all made during pre-birth development, males continuously make sperm throughout their lives. Some studies have shown that alcohol consumed by the male can enter the testicles through the bloodstream. The drug then seems to mutate some characteristics of the sperm. After exposure, they can end up with deformed heads or tails, hindering their mobility. Alcohol could also be transported to the ova via the semen and expose the embryo to levels of this toxicant.