Children born to subfertile couples, how are they doing? Evidence from research

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Pediatric Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has led to over 10 million births globally.
• The long-term health outcomes for individuals conceived via ART require ongoing evaluation.
• Understanding the impact of infertility itself on ART outcomes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize key health messages from the growing body of literature on ART-conceived individuals.
• To identify persistent and emerging health risks associated with ART.
• To provide recommendations for future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and synthesis of existing literature on ART health outcomes.
• Analysis of trends in perinatal, neonatal, neurological, cardiometabolic, endocrine, and oncological risks.
• Evaluation of neurodevelopmental outcomes in ART-conceived children.

Main Results:

• Increased risks for preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital malformations, and cerebral palsy persist but show reduction.
• Emerging evidence suggests potential long-term cardiometabolic and endocrine concerns.
• Little to no increased risk of childhood malignancy or abnormal neurodevelopment is reported.

Conclusions:

• While some risks associated with ART conception have decreased, long-term health monitoring is essential.
• Future research should address confounding factors like infertility and refine comparator groups.
• Ensuring the long-term health and well-being of ART-conceived individuals is a priority.