Beyond Fertility: The Unexpected Role of Paternal Health in Maternal Pregnancy Symptoms and Gestational Wellness
Esther Uyoyooghene Olokede
*
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Joseph Oluwadimimu Olorunda
Department of Public Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Naomi Ama Kedador
Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Capecoast Teaching Hospital, Capecoast, Ghana.
Gabriel Dogbanya
Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland College Park, MD, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Pregnancy research has traditionally focused on maternal physiological, genetic, hormonal, and environmental determinants, while paternal contributions have largely been limited to fertilisation, sperm quality, and genetic inheritance. Emerging evidence suggests that paternal preconception health may also influence pregnancy-related biological processes through epigenetic, placental, immunological, endocrine, and lifestyle-related pathways.
Objective: This narrative review examines current evidence regarding the potential role of paternal health in maternal pregnancy symptoms and gestational health, with emphasis on advanced paternal age, obesity, smoking, alcohol and substance use, psychological stress, nutrition, and environmental or occupational exposures.
Methods: A narrative review of published literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Relevant studies published primarily between 2020 and 2026 were identified using terms related to paternal health, sperm epigenetics, placental development, maternal pregnancy symptoms, gestational health, and pregnancy outcomes. Studies were selected based on their relevance to paternal influences on reproductive and gestational processes.
Results: Available evidence suggests that paternal factors may influence sperm DNA methylation, non-coding RNA expression, chromatin stability, oxidative balance, and seminal plasma composition. These mechanisms may affect early embryonic development, placental function, maternal immune adaptation, endocrine signalling, and inflammatory responses. However, much of the current evidence is observational, and direct causal relationships remain uncertain.
Conclusion: Current evidence supports the biological plausibility of paternal contributions to maternal and gestational health, although definitive causal mechanisms have not been established. A couple-centred approach to preconception and reproductive care may improve risk awareness and preventive health strategies. Further prospective and mechanistic studies are needed to clarify the extent and clinical significance of paternal influences on pregnancy outcomes. Most available evidence remains observational, and therefore findings should not be interpreted as evidence of direct causation.
Keywords: Paternal health, maternal pregnancy symptoms, gestational wellness, sperm epigenetics, placental development, reproductive immunology, preconception care, developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), smoking, obesity, lifestyle, occupational exposure