Grant: Operating Grant

In vitro fertilization and other medical technologies allow many couples with fertility problems to have a child. Children born as a result of assisted conception have a higher risk of preterm birth and other adverse outcomes, and we have limited knowledge about whether their later health may be affected by having been conceived through infertility treatment. To date, research has focused primarily on assisted reproductive technologies as the main cause of adverse outcomes. However, several underlying conditions can affect fertility, and it is thus important to also study the various causes of infertility for their potential to affect perinatal and child health. Although several experts have identified this as a priority, research in this area is very limited. As, in August 2010, Quebec has implemented a publicly funded program to provide infertility treatment to eligible couples, and other Canadian provinces may soon follow in its footsteps, we need a timely answer to these questions. We will use clinical data from women who attended a large infertility centre over a period of 15 years and a sample of women who gave birth in the same hospital during the same time period. By linking these with data from the Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ), we will be able to follow children over time for a number of endpoints and assess their health as a function of both infertility treatment and the underlying causes of infertility in their parents. This study has the potential to not only improve our understanding of the risks associated with infertility and its treatment, but also to help provide more informed care to couples experiencing fertility problems.