Long-term health of children conceived after assisted reproductive technology

Abstract

The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the present knowledge on long-term outcome of children born after assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The main outcomes covered are neurodevelopment including cerebral palsy, cognitive development, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disease, growth, cardiovascular function, diabetes type 1, asthma, malignancies, and reproductive health. Results have mainly been obtained from systematic reviews/meta-analyses and large registry studies. It has been shown that children born after ART, when restricted to singletons, have a similar outcome for many health conditions as their spontaneously conceived peers. For some outcomes, particularly cardiovascular function and diabetes, studies show some higher risk for ART singletons or subgroup of ART singletons. The fast introduction of new ART techniques emphasizes the importance of continuous surveillance of children born after ART.

Keywords:

• Assisted reproductive technology
• long-term follow up
• ICSI
• IVF

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was financed by grants from the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils, the ALF-agreement [ALFGBG-70940].

Notes on contributors

Christina Bergh

Christina Bergh is Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Gothenburg University.

Ulla-Britt Wennerholm

Ulla-Britt Wennerholm is Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.