How many infants have been born with the help of assisted reproductive technology?
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Global registry data aggregation and epidemiological estimation model
PubMed 39947276 · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2025.02.009
What was done
Researchers collated and analyzed global observational cohort data from national and regional registries compiled by the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART) covering ART cycles from 1978 through 2018. Because registry reporting by clinics, countries, and regions was often incomplete or sporadic, statistical modeling was applied using lower- and upper-bound assumptions to estimate births occurring in non-reporting centers.
What was found
The cumulative global estimate of infants born following assisted reproductive technology between 1978 and 2018 ranged from a lower bound of 9,829,668 to an upper bound of 13,019,331 infants.
Why it matters
This study provides a comprehensive 40-year benchmark quantifying the global demographic impact of assisted reproductive technology since its clinical inception in 1978.
Limits
The estimates rely heavily on statistical imputation due to substantial gaps, missing data, and sporadic participation across international registries. The specific imputation parameters and validation details are not provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- context Approximately 17 million babies worldwide have been born through in vitro fertilization (IVF).