Long-Term Effects of Assisted Reproductive Technologies on Offspring Health: Metabolic, Neurodevelopmental, Birth, and Epigenetic

Abstract

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has proven to transform fertility treatments for individuals who find it difficult to conceive after multiple attempts. However, the health outcomes in children born via ART are yet to be discussed precisely. This narrative review aims to summarize outcomes observed in infants conceived through ART, including metabolic, neurodevelopmental, birth, and epigenetic outcomes, while attempting to narrow the differences in the current literature, suggesting a need for further analysis. This review was conducted with the assistance of peer-reviewed journals indexed in PubMed, Google Scholar, Wiley Online Library, and MDPI, encompassing articles published since 2010. Search items included combinations of “assisted reproductive technology,” “neurodevelopmental outcomes,” and “metabolic outcomes.” The articles considered comprise narrative reviews, cohort studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews, all in English. Studies were selected based on factors relevant to children born through ART. A potential relationship exists between ART procedures and various health outcomes observed in infants conceived, including metabolic disorders, cognitive outcomes, birth outcomes, and epigenetic outcomes. Amongst them, the most frequently reported ones include preterm birth and large-for-gestational-age. However, confounding perinatal or parental factors, such as age, genetics, and parents’ metabolic health, complicate causal explanations, and the current literature has yet to provide a clear overview of their contribution. ART is associated with long-lasting consequences, such as metabolic, neurodevelopmental, and birth outcomes. To understand the underlying mechanisms driving these effects and to determine whether parental and perinatal factors play a greater role, longitudinal studies are recommended.