Physical, psychological, and social development of children born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection: the German ICSI long-term study

Abstract

In Germany, approximately 3% of all newborns are born after infertility treatment. The most common method of assisted reproduction (ART) is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Whether there are health disadvantages in children and adolescents born after ICSI treatment remains controversial. The German ICSI long-term study includes a cohort of children born after ICSI treatment in 1998 and 2000. The children were examined at three points in time with regard to their health, psychological, and social development (ICSI Study I–III). The focus of the first study was the course of pregnancy and birth and the neonatal health of the children. In the second study period (2004–2006), the somatic and neurological development of the singletons was studied. In the third study (2015–2017), the focus was on the cardio-metabolic and endocrinological development of the adolescents as well as their quality of life and behavior. Overall, it can be concluded that the psychological and intellectual development of the ICSI children is comparable to spontaneously conceived peers. The malformation rate in children born after ICSI is slightly increased and the birth weight slightly lower than in spontaneously conceived children. The multiple birth rate is elevated, leading to more preterm births with corresponding consequences. Differences in metabolic factors may indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Whether the procedure of ICSI leads to clinically relevant cardiovascular risks needs to be investigated in further studies.