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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on September 28, 2007
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/dem261
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Matched follow-up study of 5–8-year-old ICSI singletons: child behaviour, parenting stress and child (health-related) quality of life

M. Knoester1,2, F.M. Helmerhorst2,3, L.A.J. van der Westerlaken2, F.J. Walther1, S. Veen on behalf of the Leiden Artificial Reproductive Techniques Follow-up Project (L-art-FUP)1,4

1 Department of Paediatrics (J6-S), Neonatal Center, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands 2 Department of Gynaecology, Division of Reproductive Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands 3 Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

4 Correspondence address. Tel: +31-71-526-4081; Fax: +31-71-524-8199; E-mail: s.veen{at}lumc.nl

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial follow-up of ICSI children is scarce. We compared child behaviour, parenting stress and quality of life for singletons aged 5–8 years born after ICSI, IVF and natural conception (NC).

METHODS: All singletons born between June 1996 and December 1999 after ICSI in the Leiden University Medical Center were invited (n = 110). Matched singletons born after IVF and NC were recruited. Parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (measures problem behaviour), the Parenting Stress Index (Nijmeegse Ouderlijke Stress Index) and two quality of life questionnaires (Dux25 and TACQOL). Children completed the Dux25 Child form.

RESULTS: Eighty-seven ICSI children (79%), 92 IVF children (73%) and 85 NC children enrolled. Prevalence of behavioural disorders—as reported by the parents—was comparable in the three groups. Three of 87 ICSI children had autism or an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Problem behaviour scores were similar for ICSI and NC children; IVF children (mainly girls) scored less problem behaviour (P < 0.05) and their scores were less often in the (borderline) clinical range. Parenting stress was similar for ICSI and IVF, but lower for NC than ICSI parents, mainly on the child scale. Quality of life scores were similar in the three conception groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of autism/ASD seemed higher after ICSI, but this unexpected finding should be confirmed by future studies with larger group sizes. ICSI parents experienced more stress than NC parents, although selection bias cannot be ruled out. The majority of ICSI singletons assessed at age 5–8 years showed a normal psychosocial well-being.

Key words: ICSI/behaviour/parenting stress/quality of life

Submitted on February 14, 2007; resubmitted on July 5, 2007; accepted on July 19, 2007.


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