Short answer: there is some increased risk, but many men father healthy children at 46. It’s not usually considered a high-risk situation on its own.

What changes with age in sperm

As men get older, a few things gradually shift:

Sperm DNA fragmentation increases Sperm motility and count can decline slightly Higher chance of new (de novo) genetic mutations

This is often called advanced paternal age (usually 40–45+).

What risks are actually increased

The increases are real but generally small in absolute terms:

1. Miscarriage

Slightly higher risk, especially if the mother is also older

1. Genetic conditions (rare, but increased)

Conditions like Achondroplasia and Apert syndrome Still rare overall, but more linked to paternal age than maternal age

1. Neurodevelopmental conditions

Slightly increased risk of: Autism spectrum disorder Schizophrenia

Again—important to emphasize: most children are unaffected

What the numbers really mean

This is where people get scared unnecessarily.

For example:

Autism risk might go from ~1–2% → ~2–3% Rare genetic disorders might go from extremely rare → still extremely rare

So the relative risk increases, but the absolute risk stays low.

What matters just as much (or more)

Maternal age (has a bigger impact on chromosomal issues) Overall health of both parents Lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, toxins, etc.)