Kids after ART: On Academic Par with Peers

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Danish researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital in Hvidovre were eager to investigate whether ART had any impact on the cognitive development of children. In Denmark, as many as five percent of all births begin with ART. That’s more than three times the percentage of those conceived using ART in the U.S.

The researchers looked at data from all Danish children conceived by ART between 1995 and 2000—a total of 8,251 children (4,991 singletons and 3,260 twins). They compared the academic records of these children with 10,052 singletons and 10,833 twins who were conceived spontaneously. From these four groups, they gathered results of a general test taken by all Danish ninth grade students.

The results were reassuring. Scores were comparable between the groups—even among twins, where any potential impact of prematurity was apparently neutralized over time. The researchers did note, however, that Denmark experienced a lower twin rate than other countries between 1995 and 2000, and emphasized that safety remains a concern with multiple pregnancies.

Sources
1. European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Annual Meeting. Anne Lærke Spangmose Pedersen.
2. Medical Daily: Kids Conceived With Assisted Reproductive Technology, Including IVF, Receive Equal Test Scores As Peers.

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