Health and development of children born after oocyte donation compared with that of those born after in-vitro fertilization, and parents' attitudes regarding secrecy

The health, growth and development of a cohort of children (n = 59) aged 6 months to 4 years and born after oocyte donation (OD) was compared with that from a group of children born after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) (n = 126). The study was performed by questionnaire, and the response rate was 100% in the OD group and 95% in the IVF group. All OD children were healthy. Three IVF children had a neurological disorder. Surgical intervention had been carried out in 8% of the OD and 13% of the IVF children. Height and weight development were normal, and eating and sleeping disorders were uncommon in both groups of children. The IVF mothers more often expressed concern about the child's behaviour than did the OD mothers. Thirty-eight percent of the OD parents and 60% of the IVF parents intended to tell the child about the nature of its conception (P < 0.01). Although oocyte recipients appear to have more complications during their pregnancies than conventional IVF patients, the general health status of OD children aged <5 years is at least as good as that of IVF children. Growth and development in both groups of children is similar to that of the general population.