A study has found that it takes longer than previously thought for the negative effects of alcohol consumption to leave a man's sperm. Given the link between alcohol and birth defects, the findings are important for potential fathers to factor in when they're considering starting a family. For a long time, the focus has been on preconception maternal health as a crucial factor in pregnancy and child developmental outcomes. Alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy has always been a major concern, as it's associated with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which causes abnormal facial features, low birth weight and/or height, attention and hyperactivity issues, and poor coordination. The responsibility has always been placed on women to stop drinking to avoid FAS; only recently has the focus shifted to paternal alcohol consumption as a contributing factor.