Infertility and Autism

  In The Politics of Autism, I discuss various ideas about what causes the condition. 

 Infertility and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children

Maria P. Velez, MD, PhD1,2; Natalie Dayan, MD, MSc3,4; Jonas Shellenberger, MSc2; et alJessica Pudwell, MSc, MPH1; Dia Kapoor, MPH1; Simone N. Vigod, MD, MSc2,5,6; Joel G. Ray, MD, MSc2,7

JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(11):e2343954. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.43954

Key Points

Question  Is there an association between infertility, its treatment, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the child?

Findings  In this cohort study of 1.3 million children from Ontario, Canada, the incidence rate (per 1000 person-years) of ASD was 1.9 among children in the unassisted conception group, 2.5 in the subfertility group, and 2.7 after fertility treatment. There was a slightly higher risk of ASD in children born to individuals with infertility, which may be partly mediated by obstetrical and neonatal factors.

Meaning  These findings suggest broader strategies are needed to decrease adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with infertility and to optimize child neurodevelopment.

 There is a very long and growing list of other correlates, risk factors, and possible causes that have been the subject of serious studies: 

1. Inflammatory bowel disease;
2. Pesticides;
3. Air pollution and proximity to freeways;
4. Maternal thyroid issues;
5. Autoimmune disorders;
6. Induced labor;
7. Preterm birth;
8. Fever;  
9. Birth by cesarean section;
10. Anesthesia during cesarean sections;
11. Maternal and paternal obesity;
12. Maternal diabetes;
13. Maternal and paternal age;
14. Grandparental age;
15. Maternal post-traumatic stress disorder;
16. Maternal anorexia;
17. Smoking during pregnancy;
18. Cannabis use during pregnancy;
19. Antidepressant use during pregnancy;
20. Polycystic ovary syndrome;
21. Infant opioid withdrawal;
22. Zinc deficiency;
23. Sulfate deficiency;
24. Processed foods;
25. Maternal occupational exposure to solvents;
26. Congenital heart disease;
27. Insufficient placental allopregnanolone.
28. Estrogen in the womb;
29. Morning sickness;
30. Paternal family history;
31. Parental preterm birth;
32. Antiseizure meds
33. Location of forebears
34. Lithium
35. Aspartame
36. BPA
37. Brain inflammation
38. Maternal asthma