Pubertal development of the first cohort of young adults conceived by in vitro fertilization in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize pubertal development of the first generation of young adults born as a result of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Demographic, clinical, and body size characteristics were examined regarding developmental milestones.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Academic center.


METHODS
Young adults (18-26 years) conceived by IVF (no gamete/embryo manipulation) 1981-1990.


METHODS
Self-administered questionnaire.


METHODS
Age at puberty onset, body size.


RESULTS
Of 560 eligible young adults, 173 completed the survey (response rate 30.9%). We analyzed data on 166 respondents (71 male and 95 female). No cases of delayed or precocious puberty were observed in the study sample. As expected, age at puberty onset was significantly higher among male subjects (12.3 years) compared with female subjects (11.5 years). A few developmental milestones were predicted by maternal age and infertility diagnoses. For both genders, a direct association was noted between age at puberty onset and height achieved in young adulthood. Structural equation models suggested an inverse relationship of female gender with age at puberty onset and body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro fertilization-conceived young adults did not exhibit pubertal abnormalities. Female gender and age at puberty onset independently predicted body mass index of IVF offspring in young adulthood.
Beydoun
Hind A
HA
Graduate Program in Public Health, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507, USA.
Sicignano
Nicholas
N
Beydoun
May A
MA
Bocca
Silvina
S
Stadtmauer
Laurel
L
Oehninger
Sergio
S
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult