PDF icon Download PDF
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36(03/04): 183-194
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1675778
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Child Health: Is It Really Assisted Reproductive Technology that We Need to Be Concerned About?

Edwina H. Yeung
1   Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Keewan Kim
1   Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Alexandra Purdue-Smithe
1   Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Griffith Bell
1   Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Jessica Zolton
2   Program in Reproductive Endocrinology and Gynecology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Akhgar Ghassabian
3   Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York
4   Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
5   Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
,
Yassaman Vafai
1   Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Sonia L. Robinson
1   Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Sunni L. Mumford
1   Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
13 March 2019 (online)

   Permissions and Reprints
Preview

Abstract

Concerns remain about the health of children conceived by infertility treatment. Studies to date have predominantly not identified substantial long-term health effects after accounting for plurality, which is reassuring given the increasing numbers of children conceived by infertility treatment worldwide. However, as technological advances in treatment arise, ongoing studies remain critical for monitoring health effects. To study whether the techniques used in infertility treatment cause health differences, however, remains challenging due to identification of an appropriate comparison group, heterogeneous treatment, and confounding by the underlying causes of infertility. In fact, the factors that are associated with underlying infertility, including parental obesity and other specific male and female factors, may be important independent factors to consider. This review will summarize key methodological considerations in studying children conceived by infertility treatment including the evidence of associations between underlying infertility factors and child health.

Keywords

child health - IVF - confounding - epidemiology