How does advanced paternal age compare to advanced maternal age regarding overall reproductive risk?

• A. Higher overall risk than maternal age
• B. Lower overall risk than maternal age with longer time to conception
• C. No effect
• D. Always results in severe defects

Answer: (B)

Advanced paternal age contributes some risk, but maternal age has the bigger impact on overall reproductive outcomes. Ovarian aging in the mother increases the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidies), miscarriages, and other pregnancy complications much more than paternal age does. Paternal age can add risk through new genetic mutations and slight declines in semen quality, which may modestly affect conception and some outcomes, but the total reproductive risk remains lower than that associated with advanced maternal age. This is why the best answer notes that advanced paternal age has a lower overall risk compared with advanced maternal age, and it may be associated with a longer time to conception due to fertility-related factors.