Postpartum Depression in Fathers Following Medically Assisted Reproduction: A Register-Based Cohort Study

Undergoing medically assisted reproduction (MAR) has been linked to adverse mental health outcomes, yet research examining whether MAR is associated with paternal postpartum depression (PPD) remains sparse. We investigated the risk of PPD among fathers of children conceived with MAR compared to fathers of children conceived unassisted.

Using the nationwide health registers, we included all fathers of children born in Denmark between 2010 and 2019. We categorised children as conceived unassisted or by MAR, linking childbirths to MAR treatments and further classified MAR conception according to the type and duration of treatment, and by indication for MAR. PPD was identified using a hospital depression diagnosis or antidepressant prescriptions within 12 months postpartum. We conducted adjusted Poisson regression analyses accounting for relevant covariates, including socioeconomic factors and clustering due to multiple children born to the same fathers.

The study population included 413,682 births, of which 31,128 (7.5%) were conceived with MAR. Fathers in the MAR group were older, more often first-time parents, and had higher education and income levels. Within each group, 0.9% (270 with MAR conception, 3542 with unassisted conception) experienced PPD. We observed a 22% higher risk of PPD among fathers with MAR conception compared to unassisted conception after adjustment (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07, 1.38). Elevated risks were consistent across MAR types, treatment duration, and infertility indications, with the highest risk associated with treatment durations exceeding 12 months (aRR 1.42, CI 1.11, 1.80).

We observed an increased risk of PPD among fathers of children conceived with MAR compared to fathers of children conceived unassisted. These findings suggest the need for greater awareness and targeted support for this group in early parenthood.