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Pubertal development in children and adolescents born after IVF and spontaneous conception

Manon Ceelen1, Mirjam M van Weissenbruch, Jan P W Vermeiden

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience. VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|August 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

In vitro fertilization (IVF) may advance bone age in pubertal girls, but not boys, potentially impacting long-term health. This study found higher hormone levels in IVF girls, suggesting altered pubertal development pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology
  • Pediatric Development
  • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Outcomes

Background:

  • Prenatal environmental factors are linked to adult disease development.
  • The long-term effects of in vitro fertilization (IVF) conception on early human development and subsequent health remain incompletely understood.
  • This study investigates potential permanent impacts of IVF on prenatal development and postnatal health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine pubertal development in individuals conceived via IVF compared to naturally conceived controls.
  • To assess differences in pubertal stage, age at menarche, and menstrual cycle characteristics.
  • To evaluate bone age and sex hormone levels in relation to IVF conception.

Main Methods:

  • The study included 233 participants (115 IVF boys, 118 IVF girls) aged 8-18, with age-matched controls from the Dutch OMEGA study.
  • Pubertal stage (Tanner's classification), age at menarche, and menstrual cycle characteristics were assessed.
  • Bone age and sex hormone levels (dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate [DHEAS] and luteinizing hormone [LH]) were analyzed in subpopulations.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in pubertal stage or age at menarche were found between IVF and control children.
  • IVF-conceived girls exhibited a significantly higher bone age-to-chronological age (BA-CA) ratio and a larger BA-CA difference compared to controls.
  • Significantly elevated dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were observed in pubertal IVF-conceived girls.

Conclusions:

  • Bone age appears advanced in pubertal IVF-conceived girls, but not in boys, suggesting potential sex-specific developmental alterations.
  • Elevated DHEAS and LH concentrations in IVF girls may indicate hormonal changes related to conception method.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the long-term health implications of these findings.
Abstract

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