# Fetal alcohol syndrome?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/122579>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 6, 2002, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/122579 "2002-08-06T10:15:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/122579/1 "2002-08-06T10:15:41Z")

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Hi there,

I have a question relating to FAS. As I understand it, a mother drinking during pregnancy can lead to health problems for the child before and after birth.

My question is if a fathers drinking would/could effect his sperm, causing them to somehow be damaged and also cause a child to have health problems.

Anyone got some info ?

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**Author:** ![hedra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@hedra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hedra)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/122579/2 "2002-08-06T12:33:25Z")

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FAS is caused by maternal alcohol consumption during gestation. Dad’s alcohol consumption does not affect FAS at all. But it can affect the quality of the sperm in other ways, and that can contribute to birth defects of other sorts.

[Dad and birth defects](http://www.fasalaska.com/DadsBirthDefects.html)

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**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fetal-alcohol-syndrome/122579/3 "2002-08-06T20:38:46Z")

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Thanks for a pointer in the right direction **hedra**.  
Unfortunatly the link more or less confirmed my worries.  
I am now extremely angry.