Maternal and Paternal Age at Pregnancy for Low Incidence Trisomy Groups: Preliminary Findings and Implications

Maternal and Paternal Age at Pregnancy for Low Incidence Trisomy Groups: Preliminary Findings and Implications

number of studies have found a correlation between later maternal age and increased chances for conception of children with trisomy conditions while other studies have not. This inconsistency, along with collecting data on paternal age, deserves examination. The purpose of the present study is to examine maternal and paternal age at pregnancy related to children diagnosed with trisomy18, trisomy 13, and trisomy 9 mosaics. Results from 287 mothers and 285 fathers found that the majority of mothers were under the age of 35 (58.9% total). Paternal age closely mirrored mother’s age with 54.7% of fathers under the age of 35. Implications for additional research and for healthcare professionals including genetic counselors working in clinical settings are provided.