A recent study conducted by researchers at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, has found that children born to individuals with infertility have a slightly higher risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from a population-based cohort study in Ontario to examine the association between infertility and the risk of ASD.
The study categorized children based on the mode of conception, which included unassisted conception, infertility without fertility treatment (subfertility), ovulation induction/intrauterine insemination (OI/IUI), and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). The researchers then assessed the diagnosis of ASD in children aged 18 months or older as the study outcome.
Out of the 1,370,152 children included in the study, 86.5% were conceived through unassisted conception, 10.3% had parents with subfertility, 1.5% underwent OI/IUI, and 1.7% were born through IVF/ICSI. The researchers discovered that the incidence rate of ASD was 1.93 per 1,000 person-years in the unassisted conception group.
When comparing the unassisted conception group to the other groups, the adjusted hazard ratios for ASD were 1.20, 1.21, and 1.16 in the subfertility group, OI/IUI group, and IVF/ICSI group, respectively. It was observed that obstetrical and neonatal factors played a significant role in mediating the association between the mode of conception and the risk of ASD.
While the study highlights a slightly higher risk of ASD in children born to parents with infertility, it is important to note that the overall risk remains relatively low. The authors emphasize the need for continued efforts to reduce the occurrence of multifetal pregnancies in treatments such as OI/IUI and IVF/ICSI. They also encourage the development of specialized care pregnancy plans for individuals with subfertility and those undergoing fertility treatments.
FAQ:
Q: What did the recent study reveal?
A: The study found that children born to individuals with infertility have a slightly higher risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Q: What were the categories of mode of conception in the study?
A: The study categorized mode of conception as unassisted conception, subfertility, ovulation induction/intrauterine insemination (OI/IUI), and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI).
Q: What are the adjusted hazard ratios for ASD in the different groups?
A: The adjusted hazard ratios for ASD were 1.20, 1.21, and 1.16 in the subfertility group, OI/IUI group, and IVF/ICSI group, respectively, when compared to the unassisted conception group.
Q: What factors mediate the association between mode of conception and ASD risk?
A: Obstetrical and neonatal factors were found to play a significant role in mediating the association between the mode of conception and the risk of ASD.