[The physical development of children born with the use of assisted reproductive technologies]

Today, about 0.1% of the world's population is born using assisted reproductive technology (ART). According to the National Register of ART, in our country these children represent approximately 1.5% of all children born annually. Despite such a high percentage, data on the physical development of children born using ART is contradictory.

The aim of the study is to compare the clinical and anthropometric measurements of children born with the help of ART with those of children conceived naturally, in different age groups.

The study included 88 children born as the result of the use of ART (Group 1) and 117 children conceived naturally (Group 2). Statistical indicators were evaluated from birth to the onset of puberty. Anthropometric measurements for both groups were analyzed, factoring for multiple pregnancy: length/height, SDS length/height, body weight, SDS body weight, body mass index (BMI), and SDS BMI, at birth and at the times of examination of each child. The levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (SDS IGF-1) in children of both groups were also determined.

SDS length and SDS weight at birth in children born to a singleton pregnancy were 0.82 [0.1; 1.83] and 0.17 [-0.53; 0.9] in Group 1, and 0.5 [-0.35; 1.75] and -0.11 [-0.94; 0.635] in Group 2 (p = 0.62 and 0.37, respectively). In children less than 1 year of age, 1 year to 3 years, and 3 to 11 years, there was no difference of SDS length/height and SDS BMI (p = 0.3 and 0.9; p=0.29 and 0.29; p=0.85 and 0.6, respectively).

Children born from a singleton pregnancy in both groups were comparable in terms of anthropometric measurements both at birth (adjusted for gestational age), and at different ages. The levels of IGF-1 in children born as a result of the use of ART did not differ from those in children conceived naturally.