Introduction: The Changing Landscape of Assisted Reproductive Technology
The utilization of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has seen a paradigm shift over the last decade, particularly with the rise of the freeze-all strategy. As frozen embryo transfer (FET) becomes increasingly common due to improved cryopreservation techniques like vitrification and the potential for better endometrial synchrony, clinical focus has expanded beyond success rates to the long-term health of the offspring. It is well-documented that FET is associated with higher birthweights compared to fresh embryo transfer (fresh-ET) and natural conception (NC). However, the downstream physiological consequences of these altered early growth trajectories—specifically regarding skeletal development and metabolic health—remain areas of intense investigation. Two recent landmark studies provide a comprehensive look at these outcomes, evaluating bone mineralization and body mass index (BMI) in children conceived through various ART methods.
