Development of children born after ovarian superovulation induced by long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and menotropins, and by in vitro fertilization

The use of a gonodotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonist in an in vitro ferfillization (IVF) program raises the question of any influence on the physical, neurologic, and mental development of the children. We compared the development of children born after long-acting Gn-RH agonist treatment with that of children born after spontaneous pregnancies. Children from singleton pregnancies and ≥28 months of age were examined by a pediatric neurologist and a psychologist who did not know to which group the children belonged. The General Cognitive Index test was used. Each group included 30 children. Five children cooperated only partly. Physical and neurologic findings were normal in all children, except that one in the group born after in vitro fertilization had diffuse hypotonia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and hyperactivity. The General Cognitive Index for the 26 children in the study group and the 29 children in the control group who fully cooperated were 102±13.3 and 106±13.5, respectively (p=0.37). The verbal perception, motor, and memory indexes were not significantly different. We conclude that the long-acting Gn-RH agonist had no clinically identifiable influence on the development of these children.