Peculiarities of health and bone metabolism of children born through IVF

Abstract

The multiple increase in the number of «conceived in vitro» newborns is accompanied by an increase in the number of questions arising around this method of infertility treatment Evaluating the potential health realities of this category of children, it is necessary to consider the course of pregnancy caused by ART as a fundamental factor directly affecting the well-being of the future child. Patients who became pregnant as a result of the use of ART are a special group that differs not only from pregnant women with normal reproductive function, but also from pregnant women with long-term infertility in their history. Children’s health is criteria for assessing the well-being of society, the basis of its sustainable development and national security. Some members of the medical community suggest banning ART because of the «environmental degradation of reproduction, which leads to an almost doubling of infant mortality and congenital anomalies». Negative emotions are often caused today not even by assisted reproduction methods themselves, but by preimplantation diagnosis to select embryos based on specific characteristics, which is sometimes medically necessary. The skeletal system of newborn children is characterized by a number of features: the presence of large amounts of cartilage, the reticular structure of the bones, the rich vascular network in the areas of the bone neck and a significant thickness of the periosteum. In the first months and years of life, along with the development of the skeleton, there is a multiple rearrangement of the structure of bone tissue, reflecting its phylogenesis. Intensive growth with simultaneous remodeling creates a very special position for bone tissue, in which it is particularly sensitive to adverse effects of the environment, namely, disorders of nutrition, motor behavior of the child, muscle tone, etc. In premature infants, intense processes of phosphorus-calcium metabolism regulation are performed against the background of gestational immaturity of organs and general pathological reactions (hypoxia, acidosis), developing in the postnatal period. The study of health and bone metabolism in infants born through IVF remains an under-studied area of pediatrics and is of scientific interest for practical health care.