Successful assisted reproduction treatment and its psychological outcomes for parents and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

doi:10.1007/s10815-025-03572-9

Review

. 2025 Jul 9.

doi: 10.1007/s10815-025-03572-9. Online ahead of print.

Successful assisted reproduction treatment and its psychological outcomes for parents and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Julia Jeannine Schmid^{1

2}, Ulrike Ehlert^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
² URPP Human Reproduction Reloaded, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
³ Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. u.ehlert@psychologie.uzh.ch.
⁴ URPP Human Reproduction Reloaded, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. u.ehlert@psychologie.uzh.ch.

PMID: 40632425
DOI: 10.1007/s10815-025-03572-9

Review

Successful assisted reproduction treatment and its psychological outcomes for parents and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Julia Jeannine Schmid et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2025.

. 2025 Jul 9.

doi: 10.1007/s10815-025-03572-9. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Julia Jeannine Schmid^{1

2}, Ulrike Ehlert^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
² URPP Human Reproduction Reloaded, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
³ Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. u.ehlert@psychologie.uzh.ch.
⁴ URPP Human Reproduction Reloaded, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. u.ehlert@psychologie.uzh.ch.

PMID: 40632425
DOI: 10.1007/s10815-025-03572-9

Abstract

Purpose: Overcoming infertility through assisted reproductive technology (ART) is stressful and requires a high level of investment. Infertility, ART, and associated stress may continue to affect the family even after birth. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared psychological outcomes in families formed through ART (ART families) and families formed through natural conception (NC families), while examining factors that may promote healthy development in ART families.

Methods: We systematically searched PsycINFO, PsycArticles, and PubMed for studies published up to mid-October 2024 comparing aspects of psychological family functioning in ART and NC families beyond the first year postpartum. Eighty-nine studies were included in the review and 33 in the random-effects meta-analysis.

Results: Mental health and parental relationship quality were comparable between ART and NC parents. Compared to NC mothers, ART mothers reported slightly lower parenting stress, comparable to better mother-child relationships, and higher parental commitment. ART and NC children showed comparable intelligence and cognitive and psychomotor development, with evidence of better language skills and slightly lower school performance in ART children. Psychosocial development was marginally better in ART children according to mothers' reports, although mental health outcomes were comparable or slightly worse.

Conclusion: Overall, family functioning after ART seems to be similar to that of NC families. ART parents may exhibit protective sociodemographic characteristics, high resilience, and strong maternal commitment, potentially buffering infertility, ART, and stress effects. Further investigation is warranted to address methodological limitations evident in the existing literature and to explore protective factors in ART families.

Keywords: Assisted reproduction; Child development; Mental health; Meta-analysis; Parenting; Stress.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

1. World Health Organization. Infertility. 2024. https://www.who.int/health-topics/infertility#tab=tab_1 . Accessed 20 Nov 2024
1. Swanson A, Braverman AM. Psychological components of infertility. Fam Court Rev. 2021;59:67–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12552 .
1. De Berardis D, Mazza M, Marini S, Del Nibletto L, Serroni N, Pino MC, Valchera A, Ortolani C, Ciarrocchi F, Martinotti G, Di Giannantonio M. Psychopathology, emotional aspects and psychological counselling in infertility: a review. Clin Ter. 2014;165:163–9. https://doi.org/10.7417/CT.2014.1716 . - PubMed
1. Galst JP. The elusive connection between stress and infertility: a research review with clinical implications. J Psychother Integr. 2018;13. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000081 .
1. Banker M, Dyer S, Chambers GM, Ishihara O, Kupka M, de Mouzon J, Zegers-Hochschild F, Adamson GD. International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART): world report on assisted reproductive technologies, 2013. Fertil Steril. 2021;116:741–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.03.039 . - PubMed

Publication types

Actions

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
- Springer

[1] World Health Organization. Infertility. 2024. https://www.who.int/health-topics/infertility#tab=tab_1 . Accessed 20 Nov 2024

[2] World Health Organization. Infertility. 2024. https://www.who.int/health-topics/infertility#tab=tab_1 . Accessed 20 Nov 2024

[3] Swanson A, Braverman AM. Psychological components of infertility. Fam Court Rev. 2021;59:67–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12552 .

[4] Swanson A, Braverman AM. Psychological components of infertility. Fam Court Rev. 2021;59:67–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12552 .

[5] De Berardis D, Mazza M, Marini S, Del Nibletto L, Serroni N, Pino MC, Valchera A, Ortolani C, Ciarrocchi F, Martinotti G, Di Giannantonio M. Psychopathology, emotional aspects and psychological counselling in infertility: a review. Clin Ter. 2014;165:163–9. https://doi.org/10.7417/CT.2014.1716 . - PubMed

[6] De Berardis D, Mazza M, Marini S, Del Nibletto L, Serroni N, Pino MC, Valchera A, Ortolani C, Ciarrocchi F, Martinotti G, Di Giannantonio M. Psychopathology, emotional aspects and psychological counselling in infertility: a review. Clin Ter. 2014;165:163–9. https://doi.org/10.7417/CT.2014.1716 . - PubMed

[7] Galst JP. The elusive connection between stress and infertility: a research review with clinical implications. J Psychother Integr. 2018;13. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000081 .

[8] Galst JP. The elusive connection between stress and infertility: a research review with clinical implications. J Psychother Integr. 2018;13. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000081 .

[9] Banker M, Dyer S, Chambers GM, Ishihara O, Kupka M, de Mouzon J, Zegers-Hochschild F, Adamson GD. International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART): world report on assisted reproductive technologies, 2013. Fertil Steril. 2021;116:741–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.03.039 . - PubMed

[10] Banker M, Dyer S, Chambers GM, Ishihara O, Kupka M, de Mouzon J, Zegers-Hochschild F, Adamson GD. International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART): world report on assisted reproductive technologies, 2013. Fertil Steril. 2021;116:741–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.03.039 . - PubMed

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

Successful assisted reproduction treatment and its psychological outcomes for parents and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Affiliations

Successful assisted reproduction treatment and its psychological outcomes for parents and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Similar articles

References

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Similar articles

References

Publication types

Related information

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources