Chapter 29 - Health Outcomes of Children Conceived Through Assisted Reproductive Technology

Abstract

Most children conceived through in vitro fertilization IVF are born healthy and without complications; however, a small increased rate of congenital malformation and obstetric complications has been associated with IVF treatment. The causative factors for this association remain unclear. Fortunately, the longer-term follow-up of these children is reassuring with good general health. However, there appears to be an association with increased cardiovascular risk factor predisposing the individual to increased cardiac and metabolic disease in adulthood. This link may be due to the assisted reproductive technology (ART) used, but it may also be due to genetic factors of the children or the obstetric complications ART pregnancies are predisposed to. Further long-term follow-up studies are required to follow IVF-conceived children into adulthood to help to develop a greater understanding of the impact this relatively recent technology has on adult health and to provide an insight into any underlying causative factors.