Concerns about the possible short-term and long-term health effects of children created with assisted reproductive technology have surfaced as ART becomes more widely used. Thus, this study was set to determine if conception by ART is linked to an increased risk of atopic illness development in children.
Data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, Assisted Reproduction Database, and Maternal and Child Health Database were used in this retrospective, population-based cohort analysis. The exposure group was defined as children born between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2014, who were conceived through ART.
Using 1:4 matching based on mother age, neonate sex, and birth month, a control group of spontaneously conceived infants was chosen. Data analysis took place between December 1, 2023, and November 1, 2025. The development of atopic illness was the main result. Up to December 31, 2020, both groups were monitored. Potential confounders were adjusted using Cox proportional hazards regression models.
This trial comprised 69 785 children, with follow-up starting at birth (13 957 in the ART group and 55 828 in the control group). There were 52.5% men and 47.5% women in the study population. The mean (SD) follow-up times for the ART and control groups were 7.99 (4.22) and 8.41 (4.18) years for asthma, 5.79 (4.12) and 6.34 (4.28) years for allergic rhinitis, and 7.34 (5.13) and 7.62 (5.14) years for atopic dermatitis.
The ART group was more likely than the control group to develop asthma (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.13 [95% CI, 1.09-1.18]), allergic rhinitis (AHR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.12-1.18]), or atopic dermatitis (AHR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.05-1.12]) (all P <.001). According to subgroup analysis, children conceived using fresh embryos were more likely than those created using frozen embryos to have allergic rhinitis (AHR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.06-1.19]; P <.001).
Overall, the ART group was more likely to develop asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis in this cohort analysis of 69,785 infants conceived spontaneously or with ART. These results highlight the significance of long-term monitoring for children born by ART and more research into the underlying biological pathways.
Source:
Hsieh, Y.-C., Lin, C.-H., Lin, M.-C., & Lin, Y.-H. (2025). Atopic disease development in offspring conceived via assisted reproductive technology. JAMA Network Open, 8(12), e2551690. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.51690
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.