title: Reproductive medicine and inheritance of infertility by offspring: the role of fetal programming.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the molecular processes involved in fetal programming, to describe how assisted reproduction technologies (ART) may affect the epigenetic pattern of the embryo, and to highlight the current knowledge of the role of perinatal events in the subsequent development of reproductive pathology affecting infertile patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review of fetal programming of adulthood gynecologic diseases and ART. A Medline search was performed with the following keywords: (fetal programming OR epigenetics OR methylation OR acetylation) AND (IVF OR ART) AND (gynecology). Articles up to October 2010 were selected. Articles and recent reviews were classified by human and animals studies and also according to their experimental or observational design.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital research center.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from experimental animal models and case-control studies support the potential effect of ART in changing methylation patterns in gametes and embryos. However, these findings are not supported by population studies or experimental studies performed in human gametes/embryos. Experimental and epidemiologic studies support the hypothesis that some adult gynecologic diseases causing infertility may have a fetal origin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although it seems clear that some adult gynecologic diseases causing infertility may have a fetal origin, there is insufficient evidence to confirm that ART is the origin of later onset, adulthood diseases. Further research in this field must be conducted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, La Fe University Hospital, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. diaz_cesgar@gva.es
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz-García
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Estella
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perales-Puchalt
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simón
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000502:physiology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000379:methods*