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Neurological development in 36-month-old children conceived via assisted reproductive technology: The Japan
Takao Miyake1, Midori Yamamoto2, Kenichi Sakurai3
1Miyake Women's Clinic Chiba Japan.
Insights
Children conceived via assisted reproductive technology (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), showed no increased risk of developmental delay. Factors like multiple pregnancies and parental infertility are more significant than ART use itself.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Reproductive Medicine
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Assisted reproductive technology (ART) use is increasing globally.
- Concerns exist regarding potential neurodevelopmental outcomes in children conceived via ART.
- Understanding these outcomes is crucial for parental counseling and clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neurodevelopmental outcomes in children conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
- To compare developmental delay risks among children conceived via different ART methods and spontaneous conception.
- To identify factors influencing neurodevelopmental delay in ART-conceived children.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a Japanese birth cohort including 77,928 children.
- Assessment of neurodevelopmental delay at age 3 years using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3).
- Comparison of developmental delay risks between ART-conceived (IVF, ICSI, non-ART) and spontaneously conceived children, with adjustments for covariates.
Main Results:
- Crude analysis showed higher odds of developmental delay for IVF, ICSI, and non-ART conceived children compared to spontaneously conceived.
- After adjusting for parental background and child's sex, no significant differences in developmental delay risk were found for singletons conceived via IVF, ICSI, or non-ART versus spontaneous conception.
- Singleton girls conceived via IVF showed a slightly higher odds ratio for developmental delay in one domain compared to spontaneously conceived girls.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests that the use of ART itself is not associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental delay in children.
- Factors commonly associated with infertility, such as parental age and the occurrence of multiple pregnancies, appear to be more influential on developmental outcomes than ART methods.
- These findings support the safety of ART regarding child neurodevelopment, emphasizing the importance of addressing underlying infertility-related factors.
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate neurodevelopment in children conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with several types of embryo transfers.
Methods:
We analyzed data for 77 928 children and their mothers included in a Japanese birth cohort study. Among the included children, 4071 were conceived via IVF, while 1542 were conceived via ICSI. Neurodevelopmental delay at the age of 3 years was assessed using the Japanese version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, 3rd edition.
Results:
In the crude model, the odds ratios for developmental delay in 1-4 domains were higher among children conceived via IVF, ICSI, and non-ART (ovulatory induction or intrauterine insemination) than in spontaneously conceived children. After adjusting for parental background factors and the child's sex, there were no differences in the risk of developmental delay when comparing singletons conceived by IVF, ICSI, or non-ART and those conceived spontaneously. Higher odds ratios for developmental delay in one domain were observed in singleton girls conceived via IVF when compared with those who were spontaneously conceived.
Conclusion:
Most cases of developmental delay may be associated with multiple pregnancies and factors related to infertility, such as parental age, irrespective of the use of ART.
