Do children conceived through IVF have long-term health problems?

Most long-term health outcomes appear similar between children conceived through IVF and those conceived without fertility treatment. A few small differences have been reported, but some may be related to the parents’ underlying infertility rather than the fertility treatment itself.

Most people thinking about IVF wonder if fertility treatment could affect their child’s long-term health. Researchers have studied whether children conceived through IVF have higher risks of birth defects, developmental conditions, heart disease, cancer, and other health problems.

Studying these outcomes takes time because many conditions don’t appear until later in childhood or adulthood. However, the oldest children conceived through IVF are now adults, allowing researchers to better understand their long-term health.

One important question is whether any health differences are caused by IVF or by the underlying infertility that led to treatment. Several studies compared children of subfertile couples who conceived naturally with those conceived through IVF to help answer this question.

This article is primarily based on two large 2026 reviews that together provide one of the most comprehensive summaries of the current evidence:

• Le et al. (2026) performed a meta-analysis to combine the results of 94 studies examining long-term health outcomes after assisted reproductive technology (ART). The studies generally compared ICSI to unassisted conception (without fertility treatment) and not conventional IVF.
• Firmin et al. (2026) performed a systematic review of 55 studies focused on cardiometabolic health and related outcomes. Because the studies were too different to combine statistically, the authors summarized the overall pattern of evidence.

In this article, unless otherwise specified, “IVF” refers to assisted reproductive technology (ART), including both conventional IVF and ICSI.

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Why some risks sound larger than they are

Many of the results below are reported as relative risks (RRs). A relative risk compares how often an outcome occurs in one group versus another. For example, an RR of 1.50 means the outcome was 50% more common in one group than the other.

However, it’s also important to consider how common a condition is. Many of the conditions below affected fewer than 1% of children, so even a relatively large increase in relative risk often represents only a very small increase in the actual chance of developing the condition. That’s why, throughout this article, I’ve also included roughly how many children were affected.

For example, imagine a condition occurs in 0.10% of children conceived without fertility treatment and 0.15% of children conceived through IVF. That’s a 50% increase in relative risk, which sounds alarming. But the actual increase is only 0.05 percentage points (from 0.10% to 0.15%).

That’s why, throughout this article, I’ve also included roughly how many children were affected when it’s reported. This helps show that even when the relative risk was higher, the actual increase in risk was usually very small.

Are IVF babies more likely to have birth defects?

Le et al. (2026) found that most birth defects were not significantly different between children conceived through ICSI and unassisted conception. However, a few specific birth defects were reported less often after unassisted conception.

• Cleft lip or palate: 24% lower relative risk with unassisted conception compared to ICSI (RR [95% CI]: 0.76 [0.68–0.86], 5 studies). Overall, roughly 0.2% of children were affected.
• Circulatory system abnormalities: 34% lower relative risk with unassisted conception (RR [95% CI]: 0.66 [0.56–0.77], 8 studies). Overall, roughly 1.2% of children were affected.
• Digestive system abnormalities: 42% lower relative risk with unassisted conception (RR [95% CI]: 0.58 [0.52–0.64], 6 studies). Overall, roughly 0.5% of children were affected.
• Urogenital abnormalities: 46% lower relative risk with unassisted conception (RR [95% CI]: 0.54 [0.37–0.78], 6 studies). Overall, roughly 0.7% of children were affected.
• Nervous system abnormalities: No difference (RR [95% CI]: 1.05 [0.66–1.67], 6 studies). Overall, roughly 0.1% of children were affected.
• Eye, ear, face, or neck abnormalities: No difference (RR [95% CI]: 0.84 [0.44–1.58], 2 studies). Overall, roughly 0.5% of children were affected.
• Respiratory system abnormalities: No difference (RR [95% CI]: 0.62 [0.38–1.01], 2 studies). Overall, roughly 0.1% of children were affected.
• Musculoskeletal abnormalities: No difference (RR [95% CI]: 0.80 [0.39–1.64], 5 studies). Overall, roughly 1.8% of children were affected.
• Chromosomal abnormalities: No difference (RR [95% CI]: 0.38 [0.13–1.16], 5 studies). Overall, roughly 0.2% of children were affected.

Does IVF affect children’s brain development?

Le et al. (2026) found that autism rates and IQ scores were similar between children conceived through ICSI and unassisted conception. However, children conceived through unassisted conception had a lower risk of cerebral palsy.

• Cerebral palsy: 35% lower relative risk with unassisted conception compared with ICSI (RR [95% CI]: 0.65 [0.49–0.85], 4 studies). Overall, roughly 0.3% of children were affected.
• Autism: No difference (RR [95% CI]: 0.92 [0.57–1.49], 4 studies). Overall, roughly 0.6% of children were affected.
• Intelligence quotient (IQ) scores: No difference (mean difference [95% CI]: 2.28 [−1.28 to 5.84], 7 studies).

Are IVF children more likely to develop asthma?

Le et al. (2026) found no difference in asthma risk between children conceived through ICSI and unassisted conception (RR [95% CI]: 0.89 [0.56–1.43], 5 studies). Overall, roughly 2.8% of children were affected.

Is diabetes more common in children conceived through IVF?

Le et al. (2026) found no difference in diabetes risk between children conceived through ICSI and unassisted conception (RR [95% CI]: 1.65 [0.30–9.02], 2 studies). Overall, roughly 0.3% of children were affected.

Does IVF increase the risk of childhood cancer?

Le et al. (2026) found no difference in cancer risk between children conceived through ICSI and unassisted conception (RR [95% CI]: 1.54 [0.01–200.28], 2 studies). Overall, roughly 0.2% of children were affected.

What do we know about children’s heart and metabolic health after IVF?

Firmin et al. (2026) reviewed 27 studies that followed children conceived through IVF from fetal life into adulthood. Overall, the evidence suggests subtle cardiovascular differences during childhood and adolescence, while many differences become smaller or disappear by young adulthood.

• Heart structure and function: Some studies reported subtle differences in heart structure and function from fetal life through adolescence, although some changes appeared to normalize after birth.
• Blood pressure: Evidence suggests blood pressure may be slightly higher during childhood and adolescence.
• Blood vessel function: Some studies found reduced blood vessel function and increased arterial stiffness, although findings were inconsistent.
• Blood sugar and insulin resistance: Some studies reported differences in glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance, although findings were less consistent than cardiovascular outcomes.
• Cholesterol: Some studies found higher LDL cholesterol during childhood, although these differences appeared to lessen with age.
• Body weight and body fat: Some studies reported higher body fat during childhood, but these differences generally were not seen in adulthood.

Overall, the evidence suggests that subtle cardiovascular differences may be present during childhood. However, a large multicohort study by Elhakeem et al. (2023) found that many of these differences became smaller with age, with no consistent differences in blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, or insulin resistance by young adulthood, although small differences in cholesterol levels remained (total cholesterol +2.6%, HDL +4.2%, LDL +5.0%).

Does ICSI affect children’s long-term health compared with conventional IVF?

Le et al. (2026) also compared children conceived through conventional IVF and ICSI. Overall, there were very few differences between the two groups.

• Respiratory system abnormalities: Children conceived through conventional IVF had a 28% lower risk than children conceived through ICSI (RR [95% CI]: 0.72 [0.53–0.98], 2 studies). Overall, roughly 0.1% of children were affected.
• Chromosomal abnormalities: 31% lower risk with conventional IVF (RR [95% CI]: 0.69 [0.48–0.98], 5 studies). Overall, roughly 0.2% of children were affected.
• Other birth defects: No significant differences were found for congenital anomalies, nervous system abnormalities, eye, ear, face, or neck abnormalities, cleft lip or palate, circulatory system abnormalities, digestive system abnormalities, urogenital abnormalities, or musculoskeletal abnormalities.
• Neurodevelopment: No significant differences were found for autism, cerebral palsy, or IQ.
• Asthma, diabetes, and cancer: No significant differences.

Firmin et al. (2026) reached similar conclusions after reviewing 7 studies comparing children conceived through conventional IVF and ICSI. Overall, there was little evidence that ICSI was associated with worse long-term cardiovascular or metabolic health than conventional IVF. Several studies reported lower fasting glucose and cholesterol after ICSI, while others reported higher insulin resistance or greater body fat during adolescence. However, a large Nordic registry study by Norrman et al. (2021) found no differences in cardiovascular disease risk or obesity between children conceived through ICSI and conventional IVF.

Does frozen embryo transfer (FET) affect a child’s long-term health compared with fresh embryo transfer?

Firmin et al. (2026) reviewed 11 studies comparing children conceived after frozen embryo transfer (FET) and fresh embryo transfer. Some studies also compared these children with those conceived without fertility treatment. Overall, children conceived after FET tended to have higher birth weights and differences in some metabolic measures, while long-term heart health appeared similar.

Compared with pregnancies conceived without fertility treatment:

• Heart development: Both fresh embryo transfer and FET were linked to subtle changes in fetal heart structure and function, although the changes were generally greater after fresh embryo transfer.
• Birth weight: Babies conceived after FET were more likely to have a higher birth weight and be large for gestational age at birth, while babies conceived after fresh embryo transfer were more likely to have a lower birth weight and be small for gestational age.

Comparing frozen and fresh embryo transfer:

• Heart health: Heart health appeared similar between children conceived after fresh embryo transfer and FET.
• Body weight and metabolism: Results were mixed. Some studies found higher BMI or obesity after FET, particularly in boys or children of mothers with overweight or obesity, while others found no differences or even a healthier pattern of body fat.
• Blood sugar and insulin: Early metabolic differences, including lower fasting insulin after FET, have been reported, although it remains unclear whether these differences continue into adulthood.

Does PGT affect children’s long-term health?

Firmin et al. (2026) reviewed 4 studies and found no evidence that preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) was associated with differences in children’s growth, blood pressure, or metabolic health compared with children conceived through IVF without PGT or without fertility treatment.

No studies have yet examined these outcomes during adolescence or adulthood.

Does ovarian stimulation affect a child’s long-term health?

Firmin et al. (2026) reviewed 4 studies examining ovarian stimulation and found limited evidence that it affects children’s long-term heart or metabolic health. Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) may be associated with higher blood pressure and changes in blood vessel function during childhood, although these findings have not been consistently reported. Overall, metabolic health appears unaffected.

No studies have examined these outcomes during adolescence or adulthood.

Does parental infertility affect children’s health?

Not all health differences seen after IVF are necessarily caused by IVF itself. Some may instead be related to the parents’ underlying infertility.

Firmin et al. (2026) reviewed 5 studies to help determine whether long-term health differences are caused by IVF or by the underlying infertility.

Evidence that IVF may play a role:

• Fetuses conceived without fertility treatment by subfertile couples didn’t show the early heart changes seen after IVF, suggesting these changes may be related to the treatment itself.

Evidence that infertility itself may play a role:

• Children of subfertile couples had higher blood pressure and fasting glucose whether or not they were conceived through IVF.
• Some studies also reported higher BMI, waist circumference, and LDL cholesterol later in life.

Together, this suggests that some long-term health differences may be related to IVF itself, while others may be related to the underlying infertility.

Conclusion

Overall, the evidence is reassuring. Most long-term health outcomes were similar between children conceived through IVF and those conceived without fertility treatment. Importantly, most of the conditions studied were rare, affecting fewer than 1% of children. So even when an increased risk was found, the actual increase in the chance of developing the condition was usually very small.

One important challenge is separating the effects of IVF or ICSI from the effects of the infertility that led couples to need treatment. Some differences may be caused by the fertility treatment itself, while others may be related to the parents’ underlying infertility.

Researchers don’t yet know exactly why these differences occur. They may be related to genetics, changes in how genes are switched on or off (epigenetics), or differences in the pregnancy environment caused by infertility. If the fertility treatment itself contributes, researchers think it may involve the hormonal environment during early embryo development or differences in how the placenta develops.

As more children conceived through IVF reach adulthood, researchers will better understand whether the small differences seen during childhood continue later in life. Based on the evidence available today, however, there is little evidence that IVF or ICSI are associated with major long-term health problems in children.

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Want to read more about long-term health and IVF?

 

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About Embryoman

Embryoman (Sean Lauber) is a former embryologist and the founder of Remembryo, an IVF research and fertility education website. After working in an IVF lab in the US, he returned to Canada and now focuses on making fertility research more accessible. He holds a Master’s in Immunology and launched Remembryo in 2018 to help patients and professionals make sense of IVF research. Sean shares weekly study updates on Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit regularly. He also answers questions on Reddit or in his private Facebook group.

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