The children of IVF pregnancies: a cohort study.

A number of concerns have been publicly expressed concerning children conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF). For this reason the first 52 infants in the Monash University IVF Programme were seen for paediatric follow-up. Forty-nine children completed the Programme with one child dying at 4 months and one set of twins being withdrawn from the study. Assessment was by general paediatric interview and examination. A sub-group comprising 33 of the children and their parents received psychosocial assessment including developmental assessment. Results revealed no particular areas of concern related to the IVF conception itself. Problems found appeared to be related to the high incidence of preterm delivery (21%), twinning (21%), and Caesarean delivery (37%). The limitations of this preliminary study are noted and a longer term controlled study is planned.

In vitro fertilization children: early psychosocial development.

Following community concerns regarding the status of children conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF), 33 children who had received pediatric follow-up were seen for a psychosocial evaluation. Parents were interviewed in a semistructured format by a child psychiatrist regarding their child's development, child-centered problems, parental problems, marital issues, parenting experience, and experience of the IVF program. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development were administered to the children by a clinical psychologist. Children's ages ranged from 12 to 37 months (the majority between 12 and 20 months). There was a high incidence of prematurity and twins in the population seen. Twenty-two children had no current problems and seven presented minor problems. Of the four with significant developmental problems, two had been very low-birth weight infants with significant neurological problems and one had severe congenital heart disease. Overall Bayley Scale scores were within the normal range and parents as a group were seen to function well. Problems presented were in accordance with those expected in a population of this age range, particularly considering the high incidence of prematurity.

Clinical features of eight pregnancies resulting from in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) have resulted in the birth of nine babies, including twins. One of the twins had a congenital cardiac malformation and seven of the nine babies were girls. Labor occurred preterm in two pregnancies; and in six delivery was by cesarean section. Plasma human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone (P), and estriol (E3) measurements and ultrasonic scans showed no obvious differences from pregnancies resulting from natural conception. Cytogenetic studies from cord blood and histologic examination of the placentas were unremarkable. The theoretic risks of pregnancy following IVF and ET are discussed. Definite conclusions cannot be drawn until a large number of babies are delivered and a long-term follow-up is completed. Initial results from the current small sample are encouraging.