News | Decades-Long Study Finds No Significant Increase in Pregnancy Complications Among People Conceived Through ART
A long-term study published in BMJ Medicine on March 21, 2023, found that people conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) did not have a higher risk of pregnancy complications or adverse birth outcomes than naturally conceived peers when they later had children. The finding is encouraging for the growing number of families using infertility treatment.
Background and purpose
More than 10 million babies worldwide have been born with the help of ART. Although studies have reported some pregnancy risks, it remains unclear whether they result from treatment itself or underlying subfertility. It has also been uncertain whether people conceived through ART face the same risks when they become parents.
Researchers examined the reproductive histories of more than 1 million Norwegian residents born between 1984 and 2002 and linked them with data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Measures included average birth weight, gestational age, placental weight, congenital-defect risk, Apgar score, neonatal intensive care, cesarean delivery, hypertension and gestational hypertension, preterm birth, and fetal sex.
Results
Among 1,092,151 people born in Norway between 1984 and 2002, 180,652 had been registered as a mother at least once and 137,530 as a father at least once. Of these, 399 men (8%) and 553 women (12%) had been conceived through ART.
Although people conceived through ART differed on some health measures, they did not have a significantly higher risk of the studied complications during pregnancy or birth. Women conceived through ART showed an 86% relative increase in the risk of a low neonatal Apgar score, but the actual number of cases was small.
People conceived through ART were also 21% less likely to have a boy than naturally conceived peers. Their registered pregnancy rate during the study was 9%-12% lower, which may reflect social rather than biological factors.
Limitations and implications
Limitations included the small number of pregnancies among ART-conceived participants and limited sociodemographic data. Because all participants were born in Norway, the results may not generalize to more diverse populations.
Nevertheless, the researchers stated: “People conceived through assisted reproductive technology did not show a higher risk of obstetric or perinatal complications when they became parents.” They also noted that ART-conceived men and women had fewer pregnancies than naturally conceived peers, likely because of social factors rather than impaired fertility.
Conclusion and outlook
Although the number of ART-conceived participants with pregnancies was small and follow-up was relatively short, the preliminary results are reassuring as more reach reproductive age. Larger studies are needed, particularly to assess outcomes in older parents and time to pregnancy.
Overall, the study offers reassurance to adolescents and young adults conceived through ART that their fertility and pregnancy health may be comparable to those conceived naturally.
News | Decades-Long Study Finds No Significant Increase in Pregnancy Complications Among People Conceived Through ART
News | Decades-Long Study Finds No Significant Increase in Pregnancy Complications Among People Conceived Through ART
A long-term study published in BMJ Medicine on March 21, 2023, found that people conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) did not have a higher risk of pregnancy complications or adverse birth outcomes than naturally conceived peers when they later had children. The finding is encouraging for the growing number of families using infertility treatment.
Background and purpose
More than 10 million babies worldwide have been born with the help of ART. Although studies have reported some pregnancy risks, it remains unclear whether they result from treatment itself or underlying subfertility. It has also been uncertain whether people conceived through ART face the same risks when they become parents.
Researchers examined the reproductive histories of more than 1 million Norwegian residents born between 1984 and 2002 and linked them with data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Measures included average birth weight, gestational age, placental weight, congenital-defect risk, Apgar score, neonatal intensive care, cesarean delivery, hypertension and gestational hypertension, preterm birth, and fetal sex.
Results
Among 1,092,151 people born in Norway between 1984 and 2002, 180,652 had been registered as a mother at least once and 137,530 as a father at least once. Of these, 399 men (8%) and 553 women (12%) had been conceived through ART.
Although people conceived through ART differed on some health measures, they did not have a significantly higher risk of the studied complications during pregnancy or birth. Women conceived through ART showed an 86% relative increase in the risk of a low neonatal Apgar score, but the actual number of cases was small.
People conceived through ART were also 21% less likely to have a boy than naturally conceived peers. Their registered pregnancy rate during the study was 9%-12% lower, which may reflect social rather than biological factors.
Limitations and implications
Limitations included the small number of pregnancies among ART-conceived participants and limited sociodemographic data. Because all participants were born in Norway, the results may not generalize to more diverse populations.
Nevertheless, the researchers stated: “People conceived through assisted reproductive technology did not show a higher risk of obstetric or perinatal complications when they became parents.” They also noted that ART-conceived men and women had fewer pregnancies than naturally conceived peers, likely because of social factors rather than impaired fertility.
Conclusion and outlook
Although the number of ART-conceived participants with pregnancies was small and follow-up was relatively short, the preliminary results are reassuring as more reach reproductive age. Larger studies are needed, particularly to assess outcomes in older parents and time to pregnancy.
Overall, the study offers reassurance to adolescents and young adults conceived through ART that their fertility and pregnancy health may be comparable to those conceived naturally.
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Compiled from online sources