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Parental infertility and developmental coordination disorder in children
Jin Liang Zhu1, Carsten Obel, Olga Basso
1The Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. zjl@soci.au.dk
Insights
Children conceived after a long time to pregnancy (TTP) showed a slightly higher risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Infertility treatment was not significantly linked to DCD risk in children.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Previous studies suggest a slight delay in motor milestones for children born after infertility treatment.
- This study investigates the risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in children of infertile couples, with or without treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if children born to infertile couples, irrespective of treatment, have an increased risk of DCD.
- To explore the association between time to pregnancy (TTP), infertility treatments, and DCD risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Danish National Birth Cohort (1996-2002) on 23,167 singletons.
- Collected data on parental infertility, TTP, and infertility treatments during early pregnancy.
- Assessed DCD risk in 7-year-old children using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire completed by mothers.
Main Results:
- Children conceived after a TTP >12 months had a modestly increased risk of DCD (OR 1.35, CI 1.03-1.77).
- No significant association was found between infertility treatment and DCD risk (OR 1.19, CI 0.86-1.66).
- Unplanned pregnancies and specific infertility treatments did not show an elevated DCD risk.
Conclusions:
- Findings are generally reassuring regarding DCD risk in children of infertile couples.
- A potential modest increase in DCD risk may be associated with low fecundity.
Background:
It has previously been reported that children born after infertility treatment had a slight delay in early motor milestones. In this study, we examined whether children of infertile couples with or without infertility treatment had a higher risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
Methods:
We used data on parental infertility and DCD among 23 167 singletons from the Danish National Birth Cohort (1996-2002). Data on time to pregnancy (TTP) and infertility treatment were collected early in pregnancy. Data on DCD in children were collected using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, filled in by the mothers during follow-up when the children were 7 years old. We used the recommended cut-off for the age group to classify children.
Results:
Compared with children born of fertile couples, children conceived after a waiting TTP of longer than 12 months had a slightly higher risk of DCD [odds ratio (OR) 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.77], but the estimated OR was not significant in children born after infertility treatment (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.86-1.66). None of the individual treatment procedures was significantly associated with a higher risk of DCD. Children of parents who had not planned their pregnancy showed no elevated risk.
Conclusions:
Our findings are overall reassuring, although it is possible that low fecundity may be associated with a modestly increased risk of DCD.
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