Investigating the Association of Assisted Reproduction Techniques and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes

Overview

Journal J Clin Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2024 Jan 23

PMID 38256462

Authors

Anastasios Potiris

Paraskevas Perros

Eirini Drakaki

Despoina Mavrogianni

Nikolaos Machairiotis

Antonios Sfakianakis

Theodoros Karampitsakos

Dionysios Vrachnis

Nikolaos Antonakopoulos

Periklis Panagopoulos

Peter Drakakis

Sofoklis Stavros

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Infertility affects about 80 million individuals worldwide and 10-15% of couples at reproductive age will seek medical assistance. There is increasing evidence that pregnancies after Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) are associated with pre-term birth, low birthweight, congenital defects, and increased mortality rates. The aim of this review is to assess all the published literature and provide an updated review on the effect of assisted conception and perinatal and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: Comprehensive research on Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, and Google scholar electronic databases was conducted from July 2023 up to September 2023, using the terms assisted reproductive techniques, ART, in vitro fertilization, IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, ICSI, preterm birth, PTB, low birth weight, LBW, chromosomal defects, congenital defects, and hypospadias. In total, 87 full text articles were retrieved and after a careful evaluation, 31 studies were selected for data extraction.

Results: Our review demonstrated a higher risk of congenital and chromosomal defects, and a higher incidence of male genital tract defects and heart defects in ART pregnancies. Regarding pre-term birth, our results were contradictory.

Conclusions: Although assisted reproduction techniques are associated with increased risks, they are safe regarding perinatal outcomes and couples should not be discouraged from utilizing them. Our results aim to alert clinicians to these specific outcomes and offer more personalized care and counseling to infertile couples and their children.

Citing Articles

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Oxidative Stress and the NLRP3 Inflammasome: Focus on Female Fertility and Reproductive Health.

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Spatio-temporal distribution and socioeconomic inequality of low birthweight rate in China from 1992 to 2021 and its predictions to 2030.

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The Effect of Bisphenol and Its Cytotoxicity on Female Infertility and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Narrative Review.

Drakaki E, Stavros S, Dedousi D, Potiris A, Mavrogianni D, Zikopoulos A J Clin Med. 2025; 13(24.

PMID: 39768492 PMC: 11728370. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13247568.

Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Unraveling Its Imperative Impact on Male Infertility Based on Recent Evidence.

Stavros S, Potiris A, Molopodi E, Mavrogianni D, Zikopoulos A, Louis K Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(18).

PMID: 39337652 PMC: 11432134. DOI: 10.3390/ijms251810167.

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