Dr. John Norian was recently quoted in an article for Fatherly written by Lauren Vinopal titled “Yes, Dad’s Drinking May Contribute to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.”

According to the article, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) – a condition caused by prenatal alcohol exposure that can result in a low birthweight, facial abnormalities, a smaller head, hyperactivity, speech and learning problems, and other issues – was blamed squarely on mothers. But finally, researchers are looking to dads. The mechanism by which dad’s drinking could affect a baby’s development is through epigenetics, or how environment and behaviors like alcohol consumption changes to what extent genes are turned off or on.

John Norian, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist at HRC Fertility, notes that many human studies are limited by self-reporting, and some men not being entirely honest about how much they’re drinking. The impact of a father’s drinking prior to conception could even be stronger than what we know. “I ask men [who are trying to conceive] to avoid alcohol four to five days a week, to keep it at a minimum when out with friends or family, and not to overdo it,” Norian says. “By stopping or severely reducing alcohol consumption, a man may improve their sperm health.”

To learn more about how drinking may contribute to fetal alcohol syndrome, read the article in its entirety here.