Assisted reproductive technology shows long-term cardiovascular safety
A meta-analysis encompassing the health outcomes of over 500,000 women who used assisted reproductive technologies found no significant evidence of an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or thromboembolism within ten years of treatment.
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) do not increase long-term cardiovascular risk. This is the finding of a study published in the European Heart Journal by Prof. Giulio Stefanini, cardiologist and head of Clinical Research at the Humanitas Cardio Center – directed by Prof. Gianluigi Condorelli – and Prof. Nicoletta Di Simone, gynecologist and head of the Multidisciplinary Pregnancy Pathology Center at Humanitas San Pio X, both professors at Humanitas University.
The meta-analysis – a statistical method used to combine and analyze the results of multiple independent studies on a similar topic to draw more reliable and generalized conclusions – included ten studies (selected from over 7,000 conducted on the topic) and covered a total of more than 500,000 women who underwent assisted reproductive treatments, compared with over 36 million untreated women as a control group.
“The findings are reassuring,” comments Prof. Giulio Stefanini. “No significant evidence was found that ART increases the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, strokes, or thromboembolism, during the ten-year follow-up included in the studies. Moreover, the risk rate for cardiovascular disorders, including non-acute ones, tends to decrease over time, eventually stabilizing at levels similar to those of untreated women. These results are crucial for women undergoing ART and for healthcare professionals, as they highlight the importance of monitoring cardiovascular health particularly in the early years following treatment.”
Assisted reproductive techniques, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination, account for approximately 4% of pregnancies worldwide, and their benefits in enabling pregnancy are well-recognized. Hence, confirming their long-term safety – as this study does – is essential.
“However, it is important to assess the risks associated with RTA on a case-by-case basis, with a personalized approach,” explains Prof. Nicoletta Di Simone, “especially since women seeking these solutions may already have pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors, such as advanced age, a history of hypertensive disorders, obesity, or diabetes. We also know that certain cardiovascular conditions, such as preeclampsia, occur more frequently during ART pregnancies, and it is critical to manage these conditions appropriately. For all these reasons, women undergoing ART should be closely monitored in gynecological and obstetric centers offering multidisciplinary care and capable of conducting proper follow-up.”
ART: The Next Steps in Research
The next step will be to study the specific cardiovascular impact of various ART techniques and how this changes based on the number of cycles performed, to identify any disparities among the methods and specific risk factors that may require particular attention.
“At Humanitas, we are committed to ensuring that women receive high-quality treatments supported by the latest scientific evidence, both during and after fertility treatments,” states Prof. Paolo Emanuele Levi Setti, head of the Fertility Center at Humanitas Research Hospital, one of the largest in Italy. “ART should be considered part of the broader care pathway for patients, a journey that begins before treatment and continues afterward. To achieve this, collaboration among disciplines and a steadfast commitment to scientific research are essential, enabling us to make ART increasingly effective and safe.”
Prof. Nicoletta Di Simone concludes, “This study underscores the strategic value of collaboration between specialists at the Humanitas Cardio Center and Fertility Center and those at the Multidisciplinary Pregnancy Pathology Center at Humanitas San Pio X, a hospital with dedicated women’s health pathways.”