Check out this answer from Consensus:
Overall, children conceived through IVF generally exhibit similar developmental and cognitive outcomes compared to naturally conceived children. However, they are at a higher risk for certain perinatal complications, congenital anomalies, and some physical health issues such as elevated blood pressure and fasting glucose levels. While there are some concerns about mental health outcomes, further research is needed to establish any definitive associations. These findings provide reassurance but also highlight the need for continued monitoring and research into the long-term health of IVF-conceived children.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a widely used assisted reproductive technology. While it has enabled many individuals to conceive, there is ongoing research into the long-term health outcomes for children born through IVF. This synthesis examines the impact of IVF on various health aspects of these children, including physical, mental, and developmental outcomes.
Key Insights
- Perinatal and Birth Outcomes:
- Physical Health:
- Neurological and Cognitive Development:
- IVF does not appear to increase the risk of severe cognitive impairment or neuromotor handicaps such as cerebral palsy, with risks primarily associated with factors like preterm birth1 5 6.
- Cognitive development, school performance, and social functioning in IVF children are generally similar to those of naturally conceived children1 3 7.
- Mental Health:
- Congenital and Genetic Outcomes:
- Long-term Health and Development:
Does IVF impact the health outcomes of children?
Karin Hammarberg has answered Near Certain
An expert from Monash University in Fertility, Nursing
IVF babies are more likely to be born preterm (before 37 weeks gestation) and weigh less at birth than spontaneously conceived babies. For ART singletons and twins, 10.2% and 76.1% were preterm compared with 7.0% and 66.0% of singletons and twins born in Australia in 2017. The average birth weight was 3,295 grams and 2,231 grams for live born IVF singletons and twins respectively. These were slightly lower than the mean birth weight of all live born singletons (3,358 grams) and twins (2,349 grams) in Australia in 2017. Studies investigating the risk of birth defects in babies born following IVF suggest there is a small increased risk of birth defects compared with spontaneously-conceived babies. Between five and six per cent of IVF-conceived babies have a birth defect compared with approximately four per cent of spontaneously-conceived babies.
Studies of the growth, health and development of young children born after IVF have found few differences between them and other children. However, as multiple births have historically been more common after IVF and children from multiple pregnancies are more likely to be born pre-term and to have a low birth weight than single children, there is an overall increased risk of developmental problems and cerebral palsy. Children who are born very prematurely have more learning difficulties and attention and behavioural problems than those born at term.
The few studies that have followed IVF-conceived children beyond puberty have not detected major differences between them and other young people. An Australian study of more than 700 IVF-conceived young adults aged between 18 and 28 years found that they were more likely to have a respiratory problem and to have experienced a hospital admission than a comparison group of young adults who were spontaneously conceived. However, the two groups showed no differences in terms of other aspects of physical health and development, emotional well-being, and quality of relationship with the parents.