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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 3.0International Journal of Fertility & Sterility

Comparison of Growth Pattern in Children Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technology with or without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Cohort Study

  • Narges Bagheri-Lankarani1
  • Sedigheh Madani2
  • Masoumeh Shahsavand3
  • Roya Hosseini1,4
  • Ashraf Moini5
  • Hamid Reza Baradaran3
  • Azam Kouhkan1,6
6 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Basic and Population-Based Studies in NCD, Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5Department of Endocrinology and Female Infertility, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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Abstract

Background:: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) as well as various obstetric and perinatal complications. However, the long-term growth trajectories of children conceived via ART in the context of maternal GDM remain unclear. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effect of GDM on growth parameters among children conceived through ART or spontaneous conception (SC).

Materials and Methods:: The prospective cohort study enrolled 420 children aged 3-5 years, who were categorized into four groups: ART, ART-GDM, SC-GDM, and SC. Growth assessments included height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), which were extracted from medical records at birth and during follow-up visits at ages 3 and 5 years. Anthropometric data were standardized using age- and sex-adjusted Z-scores. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and included Chi-square tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests for normality, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and post hoc comparisons.

Results:: Children in the GDM-exposed groups tended to be shorter at birth, with the ART-GDM group showing the highest prevalence of obesity by age 5. Children conceived by ART, particularly those exposed to GDM, were significantly heavier than their SC counterparts. At birth, mean height and weight in the ART, ART-GDM, and GDM groups approximated the 50th percentile. Catch-up growth was evident by age 3, and by age 5, all groups exhibited comparable mean height and weight, with no significant sex-based differences.

Conclusion:: Despite being shorter and lighter at birth, children conceived via ART appeared to achieve growth parameters comparable to their peers by preschool age, suggesting compensatory growth. Nonetheless, further longitudinal research is warranted to clarify these findings. Healthcare providers should prioritize the monitoring and management of pregnancies complicated by GDM following assisted conception.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{bagherilankarani2026comparison,
  title = {{Comparison of Growth Pattern in Children Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technology with or without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Cohort Study}},
  author = {Narges Bagheri-Lankarani and Sedigheh Madani and Masoumeh Shahsavand and Roya Hosseini and Ashraf Moini and Hamid Reza Baradaran and Azam Kouhkan},
  journal = {International Journal of Fertility \& Sterility},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.22074/ijfs.2025.2027680.1672},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.22074/ijfs.2025.2027680.1672},
  note = {CC BY-NC 3.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Comparison of Growth Pattern in Children Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technology with or without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Cohort Study
AU  - Narges Bagheri-Lankarani
AU  - Sedigheh Madani
AU  - Masoumeh Shahsavand
AU  - Roya Hosseini
AU  - Ashraf Moini
AU  - Hamid Reza Baradaran
AU  - Azam Kouhkan
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/03
JO  - International Journal of Fertility & Sterility
DO  - 10.22074/ijfs.2025.2027680.1672
UR  - https://doi.org/10.22074/ijfs.2025.2027680.1672
AB  - Background:: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) as well as various obstetric and perinatal complications. However, the long-term growth trajectories of children conceived via ART in the context of maternal GDM remain unclear. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effect of GDM on growth parameters among children conceived through ART or spontaneous conception (SC).  Materials and Methods:: The prospective cohort study enrolled 420 children aged 3-5 years, who were categorized into four groups: ART, ART-GDM, SC-GDM, and SC. Growth assessments included height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), which were extracted from medical records at birth and during follow-up visits at ages 3 and 5 years. Anthropometric data were standardized using age- and sex-adjusted Z-scores. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and included Chi-square tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests for normality, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and post hoc comparisons.  Results:: Children in the GDM-exposed groups tended to be shorter at birth, with the ART-GDM group showing the highest prevalence of obesity by age 5. Children conceived by ART, particularly those exposed to GDM, were significantly heavier than their SC counterparts. At birth, mean height and weight in the ART, ART-GDM, and GDM groups approximated the 50th percentile. Catch-up growth was evident by age 3, and by age 5, all groups exhibited comparable mean height and weight, with no significant sex-based differences.  Conclusion:: Despite being shorter and lighter at birth, children conceived via ART appeared to achieve growth parameters comparable to their peers by preschool age, suggesting compensatory growth. Nonetheless, further longitudinal research is warranted to clarify these findings. Healthcare providers should prioritize the monitoring and management of pregnancies complicated by GDM following assisted conception.
SN  - 2008-076X
SN  - 2008-0778
ER  -