Objective:

To investigate the association between parental subfecundity and neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and behavioral difficulties.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• Children born to parents with subfecundity had higher externalizing behavior scores and 1.27 times the odds of having ASD compared to those without subfecundity.
• In naturally conceived pregnancies, subfecundity was associated with 1.31 times the odds of ASD and higher externalizing behavior scores.
• Non-IVF infertility treatments were associated with higher odds of ADHD compared to natural conception.

Interpretation:

Limitations:

• Observational design limits the ability to establish causality.
• Residual confounding may persist despite adjustments for various factors.
• Differences in access to infertility diagnosis and treatment could influence findings.
• Cohort included autism-enriched populations, limiting generalizability.

Conclusion:

Sources:

• JAMA Network Open
Source

Based on findings from:

Fertility Issues May Be Linked to Autism

Andrea Surnit. MDSpire News, 2026.

https://news.mdspire.com/obgyn/articles/fertility-issues-may-be-linked-to-autism/

Attribution Notice

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.