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Developmental outcomes at one and two years of children conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Giovanni Battista La Sala1, Andrea Gallinelli, Piergiuseppina Fagandini
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy. giovanni.lasala@asmn.re.it
Insights
Children conceived via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) show normal development. Initial differences in behavior and parent-child interaction at one year resolved by age two, indicating no long-term developmental impact.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Development
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Developmental delay in children conceived via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) lacks consensus.
- Varied opinions exist regarding the developmental outcomes of ICSI-conceived children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the developmental outcomes of ICSI-conceived children with spontaneously conceived children.
- To assess motor, mental, and behavioral development, as well as parent-child interaction quality.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study comparing 50 ICSI children with 51 controls at 1 and 2 years of age.
- Utilized Bayley Scales of Infant Development for developmental assessments.
- Employed the CARE-Index to evaluate parent-child interaction quality.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in motor and mental development were found between ICSI and control groups using the Bayley Scales.
- At one year, ICSI children exhibited lower "Motor Quality" scores and reduced "father cooperation" and sensitivity in parent-child interactions (CARE-Index).
- These differences observed at one year were not present in the two-year-old cohort.
Conclusions:
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) conceived children demonstrate normal overall development.
- Initial variations in behavioral and interactional quality at one year did not negatively impact long-term development.
- Observed differences appear linked to family dynamics rather than ICSI-specific biological factors, resolving by two years of age.
Background:
Present opinions regarding developmental delay of children conceived with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are variable and without consensus.
Methods:
We compared developmental outcome at 1 and 2 years of 50 children conceived by ICSI with 51 spontaneously conceived children. Assessments were performed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development for motor and mental development and quality of behavior, and the CARE-Index for the quality of parent-child interaction.
Results:
No difference was present in the motor and mental development of study and control groups, as assessed by the Bayley Scales. However, 1-year-old ICSI children had lower Behavioral Index scores than controls in the "Motor Quality" item (p = 0.04). Regarding interaction with parents, ICSI families had lower "father cooperation" CARE-Index scores (p = 0.02) and lower sensitivity scores (p = 0.007). No significant differences were present between study and control groups for the 2-year-old children.
Conclusions:
ICSI conceived children develop normally. When assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the CARE-Index, the differences in quality of development and social interaction observed at 1 year of age had no negative effect on the overall level of development, and appeared to be related to developmental processes of the entire family unit rather than to ICSI-related biological effects. Observed differences dissipated with familial adaptation and were not observed at 2 years of age.
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