Depression of fathers can cause premature birth

Mental health of fathers affects unborn child
When women miscarry, this is a tragic moment for the entire family. Many couples then fall into sadness and depression. Researchers are now exploring the question of whether families with depressed fathers suffer more abortions.
Scientists in Sweden are now trying to better understand the effects of depression in men. And especially their impact on their unborn children. The large study has found that depression in men makes premature birth more likely. The researchers from "Stockholm University" published their findings in the journal "BJOG".

Depression affects the offspring. Image: Rawpixel.com - fotolia

Decreasing depression reduces the quality of semen?
The mental health of a father has an impact because it can be a burden on the mother, the scientists said. The research team examined more than 350,000 births between 2007 and 2012. The experts focused on extreme premature births between weeks 22 and 31. The study found that depression has a major impact on childbirth, both in mother and father. If men were self-depressed in the last 12 months before conception or in the first six months of pregnancy, there was a 38 percent chance that their child would be born too early. Some researchers even suggest that depression reduces the quality of sperm. Depression of a partner can be a major source of stress for an expectant mother, and this can increase the risk of miscarriage, the researchers said in their study.

Effects of depression can affect offspring
Our findings suggest that both maternal and paternal depression should be considered in preterm birth prevention strategies, said Professor Anders Hjern. Because men are less likely to seek professional help to solve their mental health problems, a proactive approach to promoting well-being might be beneficial for expectant fathers, the physician added. We know that between 12 percent and 20 percent of women experience anxiety and depression during pregnancy and the first year after birth. Depression in pregnancy is very bad for women and can have serious consequences for the baby's health, Dr. Patrick O'Brien.

The current research is interesting because she has found that her father's mental health can also affect the baby's health. We encourage any family with a desire to have children, in which a parent experiences a change in mood, such as irritability or anxiety to seek professional advice, the researcher added. Nobody should suffer in silence, there is always help and support available. This study highlights the importance of treating depression in both men and women. The effects of untreated depression may even affect the health of our offspring, the medical community warned.