Children of parents diagnosed with infertility may be at higher risk of autism, study finds
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Children born to parents diagnosed with infertility have a slightly increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is probably not related to infertility treatment, but may be related to obstetric and neonatal factors.
This is evidenced by the results of a study published in JAMA Network Open, writes Medscape.
According to Maria Veles, MD, associate professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the King’s University in Kingston (Ontario, Canada), in the world, on average, one in six couples is diagnosed with infertility. At the same time, about 10 million babies were born after infertility treatment. So a key research interest of the scientists was whether infertility treatment was associated with autism.
Results from an analysis of data from approximately 1.4 million children found that the offspring of infertility patients had a 20% higher risk of ASD compared to women who conceived unaided.
| Photo: londondeposit/Depositphotos |
This study is distinguished by the fact that it considered potential mediating factors: preeclampsia (the development of arterial hypertension after the 20th week of pregnancy in a woman whose blood pressure was normal up to that time), cesarean section, multiple pregnancy, preterm delivery at a shorter term, than 37 weeks, as well as severe neonatal morbidity.
The researchers only studied data from women, so their work did not take into account male factors that could be important in the connection between ASD and infertility.
“Autism spectrum disorder is one of those very difficult diagnoses, and nobody really knows what causes it. So people are looking for factors that can increase that risk. We’re always concerned that IVF and assisted reproduction can cause harm. This last, what we want to do when we try to help a couple have a baby.” – said Wendy Kuohung, MD, associate professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Boston University School of Medicine.
As a reminder, women may face a higher risk of stroke after infertility treatment.
Read also: Can Smartphone Use Contribute To Male Infertility – Study
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