The health of children born following assisted reproductive technologies

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are increasingly popular. Births following these techniques account for 2% of UK births annually. This review aims to summarize what is known about the health of children born using these techniques, recognizing the methodological limitations of current studies and a lack of long-term data. Multiple pregnancy is identified as a key modifiable risk factor for adverse outcomes. An increased rate of congenital anomalies has been consistently observed in ART conceived children. Conversely, evidence on cognitive, psychosocial and neurological development is reassuring. Where differences in outcome are observed, the evidence suggests that this may be attributable in many cases to the subfertility of the parents rather than the techniques used. Data on long-term outcomes for the physical health of ART conceived children is limited. Evidence on childhood malignancy is reassuring but there is some emerging evidence that there may be increased cardiac morbidity in adult life. Although ART provides a means to overcome subfertility, there is potential to propagate subfertility through generations, particularly in males. Further large well controlled long-term prospective studies are required to more fully understand the effect of ART on child health and development throughout the lifespan.