Pubertal development and reproductive endocrine profile in adolescents conceived following intracytoplasmic sperm injection therapy

Abstract

The use of assisted reproductive therapies for the treatment of subfertile couples has been increasing significantly worldwide for several decades. As offspring grow up, their general and health development as well as knowledge about the fertility of the following generation also gain in importance. To date, only limited data are available to compare the pubertal development and reproductive-endocrine function in adolescents born after treatment with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) vs. adolescents born after spontaneous conception. These data have now been extended by a prospective-controlled follow-up study in adolescents aged 14–18 years in Germany (ICSI: n = 274; spontaneous conception: n = 273). For both girls and boys, comparable and age-appropriate puberty development was shown on the basis of Tanner stages and age at menarche. Linear regression analyses also showed an inconspicuous female reproductive endocrine situation, but in the male adolescents a tendency towards lower serum inhibin B levels as well as significantly higher estradiol levels and a significantly lower testosterone-to-estradiol ratio were seen. Although, in line with the results of other published study cohorts, this could indicate a possible impairment of endocrine testicular function in adolescents conceived after ICSI therapy, its effect on fertility cannot be assessed as yet.