Developmental outcomes at one and two years of children conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection

BACKGROUND: Present opinions regarding developmental delay of children conceived with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are variable and without consensus. METHODS: We compared developmental outcome at 1 and 2 years of 50 children conceived by ICSI with 51 spontaneously conceived children. Assessments were performed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development for motor and mental development and quality of behavior, and the CARE-Index for the quality of parent-child interaction. RESULTS: No difference was present in the motor and mental development of study and control groups, as assessed by the Bayley Scales. However, 1-year-old ICSI children had lower Behavioral Index scores than controls in the "Motor Quality" item (p = 0.04). Regarding interaction with parents, ICSI families had lower "father cooperation" CARE-Index scores (p = 0.02) and lower sensitivity scores (p = 0.007). No significant differences were present between study and control groups for the 2-year-old children. CONCLUSIONS: ICSI conceived children develop normally. When assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the CARE-Index, the differences in quality of development and social interaction observed at 1 year of age had no negative effect on the overall level of development, and appeared to be related to developmental processes of the entire family unit rather than to ICSI-related biological effects. Observed differences dissipated with familial adaptation and were not observed at 2 years of age.