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Outcome and follow-up of children born after IVF-surrogacy
1Huntington Reproductive Center São Paulo, Brasil. Pauloivf@aol.com
Insights
Children born via IVF-surrogacy show comparable outcomes to those from conventional IVF. Gestational carriers may offer environmental benefits, with no persistent developmental delays observed at two years.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) with surrogacy is an assisted reproductive technology.
- Perinatal outcomes and long-term development of children born via IVF-surrogacy require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the perinatal outcomes and developmental trajectories of children born after IVF-surrogacy.
- To compare these outcomes with children born after conventional IVF.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent perinatal outcomes data for IVF-surrogacy.
- Analysis of developmental information for 110 children up to two years of age.
- Comparison with data from the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) Registry (1991-1995).
Main Results:
- Singleton birth weights were similar between IVF-surrogacy and IVF groups.
- Multiple births (twins, triplets) from IVF-surrogacy had higher birth weights than conventional IVF.
- Lower incidence of low birth weight and comparable congenital abnormality rates were observed in the IVF-surrogacy group.
- Speech delays in multiple births resolved by age two; no persistent speech or motor delays were noted.
Conclusions:
- IVF-surrogacy is associated with favorable perinatal and developmental outcomes.
- Gestational carriers may provide a beneficial intrauterine environment.
- No significant long-term developmental disadvantages were identified for children born via IVF-surrogacy.
Abstract:
This study addresses various outcomes and follow-up of children born after IVF-surrogacy. Recent reports on perinatal outcome after IVF-surrogacy and on data generated by the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) Registry between 1991 and 1995 were examined. A review of recently published perinatal outcomes of children born after IVF-surrogacy, including the developmental information of 110 children after the first 2 years of life, was undertaken. The birth weights for singleton pregnancies following IVF-surrogacy and IVF were similar, whereas the birth weights of twins and triplets born from the IVF-surrogates were significantly heavier than those delivered from conventional IVF patients. Preterm delivery was increased in twin and triplet gestations in all segments analysed. The incidence of low birth weight was significantly lower in children born after IVF surrogacy than in those born after IVF, for all births recorded. The incidence of congenital abnormalities following IVF and IVF-surrogacy was within the expected range for spontaneous conceptions. Speech delays were predominant in the multiple births, but neither speech nor motor delays persisted at 2 years of age in children born after IVF-surrogacy. These findings would imply that a gestational carrier would provide potential environmental benefits for the infant.
