Elsevier

Fertility and Sterility

Volume 93, Issue 2, 15 January 2010, Pages 544-553
Fertility and Sterility

In vitro fertilization
Ovarian hyperstimulation and the in vitro fertilization procedure do not influence early neuromotor development; a history of subfertility does

Presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, July 6–9, 2008, Barcelona, Spain.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.03.008Get rights and content
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Objective

To evaluate specific effects of ovarian hyperstimulation, the in vitro procedure, and a history of subfertility on neuromotor development at 3 months of age.

Design

Prospective, cohort study.

Setting

University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.

Patient(s)

Singletons conceived after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation-IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (COH-IVF; n = 68) or modified natural cycle-IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (MNC-IVF; n = 57), and naturally conceived singletons of subfertile couples (NC; n = 90). Data from a reference population were available (n = 450).

Intervention(s)

None.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Quality of general movements (GMs), classified as normal-optimal, normal-suboptimal, mildly abnormal, or definitely abnormal. Definitely abnormal GMs indicate brain dysfunction, mildly abnormal GMs normal but non-optimal brain function.

Result(s)

Mildly abnormal and definitely abnormal GMs were observed equally frequently in COH-IVF, MNC-IVF, and NC singletons. The three subfertile groups showed a reduction in GM quality, in particular more mildly abnormal GMs, in comparison with the reference population.

Conclusion(s)

Singletons born after IVF (with or without ovarian hyperstimulation) are not at increased risk for abnormal GMs compared with naturally conceived peers of subfertile parents. Mildly abnormal GMs occur more often in infants of subfertile parents than in the general population, suggesting that factors associated with subfertility rather than those related to IVF procedures may be associated with less-optimal early neurodevelopmental outcome. These results need confirmation through replication and follow-up at older ages.

Key Words

Assisted reproductive technology
children
child development
general movements
infant
IVF

Cited by (0)

K.J.M. has nothing to disclose. M.L.H. has nothing to disclose. M.J.H. has nothing to disclose. A.F.B. has nothing to disclose. M.H.-A. has nothing to disclose.

Supported by grant no. 754510 from the University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.