ART Birth weight trends
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effects of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) on long-term Birth Weight trends: A National Cohort Study
IRAS ID
287022
Contact name
Fiskani J.M. Kondowe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 0 days
Research summary
Scientific evidence clearly indicates that health in adult life is dependent on early childhood conditions which may date far back to when the baby was conceived. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatments have benefited millions though they alter the early environment to which the embryo is exposed, particularly In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). Although ART is very safe for individuals, there is research evidence that IVF babies may have slightly lower birthweights on average. This leads to a suggestion that that as a whole, ART-conceived babies may have a slightly higher risk of health problems in later life.
Evidence from a single hospital suggests that birthweight (BW) in IVF babies has increased over time from 1991 to 2015 and that IVF babies may now be less different from those conceived naturally. The main aim of this study is therefore to assess long term BW trends in IVF babies (both singleton and twin births) for a larger national cohort, and compare these changes with those observed in naturally conceived babies. The study will focus on babies born from 1991 up to the present.
The HFEA data register has often been used in ART studies requiring large numbers and also combined with other data for studies linking IVF procedures to long term health. This study will also explore methodological issues associated with the HFEA register. Firstly, we will examine whether studies that use the less complete publicly available data can give accurate enough results compared to the more detailed data we are using. Secondly we will look at the potential effects of Consent for Disclosure introduced in 2009 on the ability to undertake child outcome studies in the post 2009 period. Finally the success rates for IVF have increased over time so we will look at how the improvement in success rate relates to BW.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/PR/0505
Date of REC Opinion
11 Jan 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion