The psychological status at school age of children conceived by in-vitro fertilization

This study assessed the behavioural and psychological profiles of children conceived by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) who are now at school age. A tota l of 743 IVF children born at one institution and now of school age, over 4 years old, were surveyed with Achenbach questionnaires. Followup telephone interviews were conducted with non-responders, The results from the study group were compared to the questionnaire control group using one-tailed t-t est with statistical significance set less than 0.05. There was an 84% over all response rate. Sixty-seven per cent returned questionnaires, An additio nal 17% completed a telephone interview. The study group had no statistical ly significant increase in the rate of behavioural or psychological problem s compared with the control group. There were no statistically significant differences within the study group related to sex or to multiple gestation IVF births. This large group of school-age IVF children has normal psycholo gical development with no identified adverse effect of their status as IVF children. Determining the role, if any, of IVF in the very small number of children with behavioural and psychological problems will require additiona l study.