Growth and development of children born after in vitro fertilization

Objective: To evaluate growth and development of children born after IVF treatment. Design: Literature review. Conclusion(s): At present there is substantial evidence that children born after IVF are at increased risk for adverse perinatal outcome, congenital malformations, and rare epigenetic defects. It is still unclear whether observed health problems originate from the IVF procedure itself or the underlying subfertility problems of the parents. Current I follow-up studies regarding postnatal growth and morbidity rates are scarce with conflicting results and other areas of long-term research in children born after IVF are still in its infancy. The importance of the worldwide continuing monitoring of children born after IVF to investigate potential long-term consequences including the development of cardiovascular diseases is therefore highlighted. (Fertil Steril(R) 2008;90:1662-73. (C)2008 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)