Assisted reproductive technology and birth defects: analysis of the mediating pathways in twin pregnancies

To systematically evaluate the epidemiological association between ART and the risk of birth defects.

Based on the latest provincial monitoring data from a large sample in Hunan Province, China for the period 2023-2024, we conducted a retrospective study comparing baseline characteristics between ART-conceived and naturally-conceived pregnancies. Through multivariable logistic regression, we estimated ART-birth defect associations, with interaction analyses across key subgroups. Besides, we performed mediation analysis to quantify twin pregnancy's role in the ART-birth defect relationship.

A total of 745,671 fetuses were included in this study. Regression analysis showed that assisted reproduction is a risk factor for birth defects, with an adjusted odds ratio(aOR) of 1.84 (1.68-2.01). Compared with infants born through natural conception, infants conceived through ART had a significantly increased risk of birth defects (single fetus: aOR = 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42-1.77; twin fetus: aOR = 1.83, 95%CI: 1.51-2.21). The risk of specific birth defect subtypes in infants conceived through ART was significantly increased, including: circulatory system defects, musculoskeletal abnormalities, and cleft lip and palate. Subgroup analysis showed that gestational age (p < 0.001) and place of residence (p = 0.007) had significant interaction effects on the association between ART and birth defects. In addition, in the mediation analysis, twin pregnancies could explain 14.33% of the relative impact of ART on birth defects.

This study has found that the use of ART increases the risk of birth defects. In the association between ART and birth defects, twin pregnancies accounted for 14.33%.