Guide | Children Conceived Through IVF Develop as Well as Naturally Conceived Children
In vitro fertilization has been used long enough for researchers to compare the school-age development and academic achievement of children conceived through IVF with those conceived naturally.
Dr. Amber Kennedy and colleagues found almost no differences in these milestones between children conceived through IVF and those conceived naturally. The study included 11,059 children conceived through IVF and 401,654 conceived naturally.
“Parents considering IVF and healthcare professionals can be reassured that children conceived through IVF have developmental and educational outcomes at school age comparable to their peers,” said lead author Dr. Amber Kennedy, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Mercy Hospital and the University of Melbourne.
“Overall, we know that children born through IVF do well in health, emotional, and cognitive outcomes, so I am not surprised,” said Dr. Ariadna Cymet Lanski, chair of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's Mental Health Professional Group, who was not involved in the study.
Some earlier studies linked IVF with increased risks of congenital anomalies, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. Asked why the current study did not find these increased risks, Kennedy explained: “Our study included a relatively recent birth cohort, which may explain some differences from earlier research because IVF technology has evolved over time.”
Researchers noted that an estimated 8 million people worldwide have been conceived through IVF since the first IVF birth in 1978. In Australia, the proportion increased from 2% in 2000 to nearly 5% today, meaning 1 in 20 babies is born through IVF. Understanding long-term outcomes in this population is therefore important.
Kennedy, senior author Dr. Anthea Lindquist, and colleagues studied 585,659 singleton births in Victoria, Australia, from 2005 to 2014. Twins and higher-order multiples were excluded. Using the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) and the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), researchers assessed standard developmental measures in 4,697 children conceived through IVF and 168,503 conceived naturally, and standard educational measures in 8,976 children conceived through IVF and 333,335 other children.
For example, the development census measured developmental vulnerability. Kennedy and colleagues found a 0.3% difference between children conceived through IVF and those conceived naturally, which was statistically indistinguishable from zero. IVF also had almost no effect on overall literacy scores, with an adjusted mean difference of 0.03.
Lanski said the findings should reassure people considering IVF. “I understand the value of this study.” The results “may provide considerable comfort if you want to build a family and this method is medically recommended.”
Because IVF techniques vary, researchers hope to explore differences among them. Kennedy said: “We plan to investigate the effects of specific IVF techniques on school-age children.”
Guide | Children Conceived Through IVF Develop as Well as Naturally Conceived Children
Guide | Children Conceived Through IVF Develop as Well as Naturally Conceived Children
In vitro fertilization has been used long enough for researchers to compare the school-age development and academic achievement of children conceived through IVF with those conceived naturally.
Dr. Amber Kennedy and colleagues found almost no differences in these milestones between children conceived through IVF and those conceived naturally. The study included 11,059 children conceived through IVF and 401,654 conceived naturally.
“Parents considering IVF and healthcare professionals can be reassured that children conceived through IVF have developmental and educational outcomes at school age comparable to their peers,” said lead author Dr. Amber Kennedy, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Mercy Hospital and the University of Melbourne.
“Overall, we know that children born through IVF do well in health, emotional, and cognitive outcomes, so I am not surprised,” said Dr. Ariadna Cymet Lanski, chair of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's Mental Health Professional Group, who was not involved in the study.
Some earlier studies linked IVF with increased risks of congenital anomalies, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. Asked why the current study did not find these increased risks, Kennedy explained: “Our study included a relatively recent birth cohort, which may explain some differences from earlier research because IVF technology has evolved over time.”
Researchers noted that an estimated 8 million people worldwide have been conceived through IVF since the first IVF birth in 1978. In Australia, the proportion increased from 2% in 2000 to nearly 5% today, meaning 1 in 20 babies is born through IVF. Understanding long-term outcomes in this population is therefore important.
Kennedy, senior author Dr. Anthea Lindquist, and colleagues studied 585,659 singleton births in Victoria, Australia, from 2005 to 2014. Twins and higher-order multiples were excluded. Using the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) and the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), researchers assessed standard developmental measures in 4,697 children conceived through IVF and 168,503 conceived naturally, and standard educational measures in 8,976 children conceived through IVF and 333,335 other children.
For example, the development census measured developmental vulnerability. Kennedy and colleagues found a 0.3% difference between children conceived through IVF and those conceived naturally, which was statistically indistinguishable from zero. IVF also had almost no effect on overall literacy scores, with an adjusted mean difference of 0.03.
Lanski said the findings should reassure people considering IVF. “I understand the value of this study.” The results “may provide considerable comfort if you want to build a family and this method is medically recommended.”
Because IVF techniques vary, researchers hope to explore differences among them. Kennedy said: “We plan to investigate the effects of specific IVF techniques on school-age children.”
Source:
Collected online