Infant outcomes of assisted reproduction

Early Hum Dev. 2009 Nov;85(11):673-7. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2009.08.055. Epub 2009 Sep 9.

Abstract

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have become widely used in the treatment of subfertility over the last 30 years. Currently 1.7% of all births in the UK occur after assisted conception. This review summarises work that has been undertaken to investigate health outcomes of these children and summarises areas where uncertainty continues to exist. Much of the adverse health outcomes of children born after ART are related to higher order birth; however evidence suggests adverse perinatal outcomes in singletons as well as twins and triplets. The cause of adverse health outcomes in ART conceived children is as yet unclear and studies investigating causal factors such as underlying subfertility are discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Child Development / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome*
  • Reproductive Techniques, Assisted* / statistics & numerical data
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome