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Although asthma has been previously associated with preterm delivery and low birthweight, evidence supporting a relationship between IVF and asthma remains inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to characterize asthma experiences in the oldest IVF-conceived generation in the USA. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 173 young adults (age: 18-26 years) conceived by conventional IVF between 1981 and 1990 at a major fertility treatment centre. A self-administered questionnaire was used with standard questions adapted from the 2008 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System to assess asthma characteristics. Sixteen percent of participants reported a lifetime diagnosis of asthma; nearly half of those were no longer experiencing asthma symptoms at the time of the survey. The asthma profile of young adults conceived by IVF appeared to be favourable compared with the general population of the USA. Although few statistically significant results were obtained, low birthweight infants and individuals of a multiple gestation tended to be diagnosed at a later stage and were more likely to be current asthmatics seeking healthcare services than normal-weight infants and individuals of a singleton gestation. Further studies using larger samples and more advanced designs are needed to confirm these preliminary findings., (Copyright © 2010 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and body mass index (BMI) on selected indicators of IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment success. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using existing data on 69 IVF/ICSI treatment cycles undergone by PCOS women and an individually matched sample of 69 IVF/ICSI treatment cycles undergone by non-PCOS women at a major fertility treatment centre. BMI (kg/m(2)) was analysed as a continuous and categorical (<25, 25-29.9, > or =30)variable. Results indicated that PCOS was directly associated with the number of oocytes retrieved. Irrespective of PCOS status, continuous BMI was inversely associated with total and mature oocytes retrieved. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated no significant effects of PCOS or continuous BMI on the number of mature oocytes fertilized per mature oocyte retrieved or inseminated. Similarly, multiple logistic regression analyses suggested no significant effect of PCOS and continuous BMI on the odds of pregnancy, miscarriage or live birth. Furthermore, categorical BMI did not influence process and outcome measures of IVF/ICSI treatment success. PCOS and continuous BMI appear to have significant and distinct effects on early stages, but not on later stages, of IVF/ICSI treatment.