Abstract
Concerns persist about a possible link between infertility and risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Interpretation of
existing studies is limited by racial/ethnic homogeneity of study populations and other factors. Using a case–control design,
we evaluated infertility history and treatment documented in medical records of members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
Among singletons (349 cases, 1,847 controls), we found no evidence to support an increase in risk of ASD associated with infertility.
Among multiple births (21 cases, 54 controls), we found an increased risk associated with infertility history and with infertility
evaluations and treatment around the time of index pregnancy conception; however, small sample size and lack of detailed data
on treatments preclude firm interpretation of results for multiple births.
existing studies is limited by racial/ethnic homogeneity of study populations and other factors. Using a case–control design,
we evaluated infertility history and treatment documented in medical records of members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
Among singletons (349 cases, 1,847 controls), we found no evidence to support an increase in risk of ASD associated with infertility.
Among multiple births (21 cases, 54 controls), we found an increased risk associated with infertility history and with infertility
evaluations and treatment around the time of index pregnancy conception; however, small sample size and lack of detailed data
on treatments preclude firm interpretation of results for multiple births.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-012-1598-5
- Authors
- Judith K. Grether, California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Richmond, CA 94804, USA
- Yinge Qian, Division of Research, Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
- Mary S. Croughan, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Yvonne W. Wu, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Michael Schembri, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Loretta Camarano, School of Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA
- Lisa A. Croen, Division of Research, Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257