Risk of endometriosis, adenomyosis, and related symptoms among female offspring according to conception by assisted reproductive technologies

Magnus MC, Maria C. Magnus, Alavi DT, Dena Treider Alavi, Sunniva Nydal, Nydal S, Abigail Fraser, Debbie A. Lawlor, Deborah A. Lawlor, Danielsson KC, Kim Christian Danielsson, Håberg SE, Siri E. Håberg, Hans Ivar Hanevik, Hanevik HI
Fertility and sterility · 2025 · vol. 125(4) , pp. 608–616 · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2025.10.002 · PMID:41076234 · W4415015545
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Female offspring conceived via assisted reproductive technologies exhibited a higher risk of endometriosis, adenomyosis, and associated symptoms compared to those conceived naturally.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between conception by assisted reproductive technology (ART) and risk of endometriosis/adenomyosis in female offspring. DESIGN: National registry-based cohort study. SUBJECTS: We studied 449,611 female offspring born in Norway between 1991 and 2006 who were still alive and residing in Norway when they were 15 years of age using a national registry linkage. EXPOSURE: Conception by ART. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The risk of endometriosis/adenomyosis and related symptoms (menstrual pains, pain during intercourse, and heavy menstrual bleedings) in female offspring conceived by ART compared with those not conceived by ART was studied using a Cox regression, adjusting for maternal characteristics, including age, parity, history of endometriosis/adenomyosis, and country of birth. RESULTS: Female offspring conceived by ART had a higher risk of endometriosis/adenomyosis than those not conceived by ART (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.94). We also observed an increased risk of seeking healthcare for menstrual pains (adjusted HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.02-1.21), pains during intercourse (adjusted HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.12-1.65), and heavy menstrual bleedings (adjusted HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.14-1.51) among female offspring conceived by ART. When we compared offspring not themselves conceived by ART to mothers with a history of using ART and offspring not conceived by ART to mothers with no history of use of ART, we observed no difference in the risk of endometriosis/adenomyosis or related symptoms. CONCLUSION: Female offspring conceived by ART have an increased risk of endometriosis/adenomyosis and related symptoms. Additional studies are needed to replicate our findings and to further explore potential underlying mechanisms.

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Condition tags

endometriosisadenomyosis

MeSH descriptors

Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis

Citation neighborhood (2-hop)

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. Outer rings show 2-hop neighbours — papers reached through the immediate citers/citees. [ collapse to 1-hop ]

References (27)

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