From conception to childhood: Anthropometric characteristics of children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies in Kazakhstan.

Zhanar  Nurgaliyeva; Sevara Ilmuratova; Каnatzhan Кеmelbekov; Vyacheslav Lokshin; Karlygash  Zhubanysheva; Aigyul Izhanova; Lyazzat Umbetyarova; Roza Seisebayeva; Bibigul Tukbekova; Lyazat  Manzhuova; Takhmina Ussenova

doi:10.23750/abm.2026.18710

From conception to childhood: Anthropometric characteristics of children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies in Kazakhstan.

Authors

Zhanar Nurgaliyeva Department of Outpatient Pediatrics, School of Pediatrics, Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D.Asfendiyarov, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0490-8000
Sevara Ilmuratova International Clinical Centre of Reproduction “PERSONA”, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Каnatzhan Кеmelbekov Department “Pediatrics-1”, JSC South Kazakhstan Medical Academy, Shymkent, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1619-6278
Vyacheslav Lokshin International Clinical Centre of Reproduction “PERSONA”, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4792-5380
Karlygash Zhubanysheva Department of Neonatology, Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D.Asfendiyarov, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4222-661X
Aigyul Izhanova Department of Internal Medicine, Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D.Asfendiyarov, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0589-0148
Lyazzat Umbetyarova Department of Biophysics, Biomedicine and Neuroscience, Al Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8703-9252
Roza Seisebayeva Department of Outpatient Pediatrics, School of Pediatrics, Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D.Asfendiyarov, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1606-7077
Bibigul Tukbekova Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Karaganda Medical University, Karaganda, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9115-8510
Lyazat Manzhuova Scientific Center of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8775-3985
Takhmina Ussenova Department of Gastroenterology, Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D.Asfendiyarov, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1622-2962

Keywords:

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Anthropometric Characteristics, Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET), Childhood Growth, Physical Development

Abstract

Background and aim: As assisted reproductive technologies (ART) expand globally and in Kazakhstan, mon-itoring the long-term health of resulting offspring has become a public health priority. This study aimed to compare growth patterns and anthropometric characteristics in children under five years old born after ART versus natural conception (NC) to under-stand the influence of different conception modes.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 120 ART-conceived children and 132 NC children, with measurements standardized using WHO weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height charts..

Results: Results indicated that preterm births were 4.56 times more frequent in the ART group (95% CI: 2.06–10.07), contributing to a significantly higher incidence of low birth weight (p=0.004). Additionally, mothers in the ART group exhibited significantly higher BMI and weight compared to NC mothers (p<0.001). However, after age and sex standardi-zation, no statistically significant differences in anthropometric indicators were found between NC and ART groups, nor between frozen and fresh embryo transfer cohorts. While the ART group showed a higher percentage of overweight children (8.3% vs. 4.5%), this was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: We conclude that ART is generally safe regarding physical development, as initial perinatal disparities tend to normalize by early childhood.

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