The Groningen assisted reproductive technologies cohort study: developmental status and behavior at 2 years

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether children’s cognitive and psychomotor development and behavior at 2 years are affected by ovarian hyperstimulation and the IVF laboratory procedures or subfertility.DesignProspective longitudinal cohort study.SettingUniversity Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands.Patient(s)Singletons born after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)–IVF (n = 66) and modified natural cycle–IVF (n = 56), singletons born to subfertile couples who conceived naturally (subfertile–naturally conceived, n = 87), and a reference group of 101 2-year-old singletons born to fertile couples.Intervention(s)None.Main Outcome Measure(s)Bayley Scales of Infant Development and Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist.Result(s)Mental and psychomotor development and behavioral outcome in COH-IVF, modified natural cycle–IVF, and subfertile–natural cycle groups was not different. Developmental outcome and behavior of the subfertile groups were largely similar to those of the fertile reference group. Nevertheless, the subfertile groups scored higher on the scale of anxious-depressed behavior than the reference group.Conclusion(s)This present relatively small study found no differences in cognitive and psychomotor development and behavior at 2 years in children born after COH-IVF or modified natural cycle–IVF or naturally conceived children of subfertile parents. Replication of the study is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. Furthermore, long-term follow-up is needed to confirm these findings in older children.