How many infants have been born with the help of assisted reproductive technology?

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the total number of infants born globally between 1978 and 2018 after assisted reproductive technology (ART). Estimates are based on epidemiological data systematically and uniquely collected by the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies over 40 years.

DESIGN

The International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies has been reporting global results from country and regional registries since 1991. These observational cohort reports were collated and analyzed to obtain the number of infants born. Because reporting of outcomes is inconsistent, and clinics, countries, and regions report incompletely, sporadically, or not at all, statistical estimates were used to estimate the additional number of infants born from nonreporting clinics, countries, and regions. Upper and lower estimates were based on assumptions about the number of births from nonreporting clinics.

SUBJECTS: Patients starting an ART cycle between 1978 and 2018. All clinics reporting their outcomes to national and regional registries, or directly to the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

EXPOSURE: Assisted reproductive technologies.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The total number of infants born from ART annually from 1978 through 2018, including the estimated number from nonreporting clinics, countries, and regions.

RESULTS

The global lower and upper estimates of infants born from ART from 1978 through 2018 are 9,829,668 and 13,019,331.

CONCLUSION

Ten million and up to 13 million or more infants have been born from ART in the 40 years since the first ART-conceived infant was born in 1978. This large number of infants born from both conventional and innovative applications of ART confirms that ART has helped millions of people realize parenthood, is now mainstream medicine, has had a significant societal impact, including novel family formation, and highlighted inequities regarding reproductive rights and access to care.