Parental infertility and sexual maturation in children

Authors: Zhu, Jin Liang; Basso, Olga; Obel, Carsten; Bech, Bodil Hammer; Nohr, Ellen Aagaard; Shrestha, Anshu; Olsen, Jrn

Source: Human Reproduction, Volume 24, Number 2, 16 February 2009 , pp. 445-450(6)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND

The reproductive health of children born of infertile couples may be affected by infertility treatment or factors associated with infertility. We examined sexual maturation in children of parents with infertility.

METHODS

We used data from a follow-up of 3382 girls and 2810 boys born between 1984 and 1987 in the AalborgOdense Birth Cohort. We had mothers report of time to pregnancy (TTP) and infertility treatment (at the time, mostly hormonal) from the pregnancy questionnaire administered in 19841987, and the childrens report of their own sexual maturation from the follow-up questionnaire administered in 2005, when they were between 18 and 21 years old. Many reported age only in year when they had the events related to sexual maturation, and for each event, we imputed the month based on the median month at each year of age among those reporting both years and months.

RESULTS

In girls, the mean age at menarche was 13.3 years and, in boys, the mean age at appearance of acne, voice break, regular shaving and first nocturnal emission were 14.5, 14.5, 17.2 and 14.7 years, respectively. We saw no significant differences in age at these events among children born of either fertile (with TTP of 012 months and no treatment), untreated infertile (with TTP of more than 12 months and no treatment) or treated infertile couples (with a history of examination or treatment for infertility).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest no significant association between parental infertility or hormonal treatment and timing of sexual maturation in the offspring.

Keywords: infertility; infertility treatment; puberty; time to pregnancy

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/den366

Publication date: 2009-02-16

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Human Reproduction features full-length, peer-reviewed papers reporting original research, clinical case histories, as well as opinions and debates on topical issues. Papers published cover the scientific and medical aspects of reproductive physiology and pathology, endocrinology, andrology, gonad function, gametogenesis, fertilization, embryo development, implantation, pregnancy, genetics, genetic diagnosis, oncology, infectious disease, surgery, contraception, infertility treatment, psychology, ethics and social issues. The highest scientific and editorial standard is maintained throughout the journal along with a rapid rate of publication.

Parental infertility and sexual maturation in children

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