A woman may have more difficulty in conceiving because of decreased fertility. She is also slightly more prone to problems during the pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and miscarriage. Furthermore, the risk of chromosome abnormalities, such as having a child with Down syndrome, is increased. In addition to chromosomal abnormalities, advanced age has been associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes. Maternal age under 15 carries some additional risks also.
Questions remain unanswered if advanced paternal age can be linked to any birth defects.
There may be some small connection, but medical studies have not demonstrated any specific problems and it's not known at what age a problem might begin. Following conception, if there is concern about the effects of the father's age on the fetus, ask about prenatal tests to determine if they are warranted. Find out how the condition will affect the pregnancy, how the pregnancy will affect the condition, and if any medications you take might affect the pregnancy. The medical condition needs to be under control before you conceive and you must continue good selfcare throughout a pregnancy. Get a tetanus booster if you haven't had one in the past 10 years.