Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Eva DierckxResearchThe physical and psychological development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-children Through individual and family diagnosisIntracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a recently developed technique, used to treat severe male factor infertility. Developed at the University Hospital – Vrije Universiteit Brussel (AZ-VUB) (Belgium) in 1991, it is now used in different fertility centers in Europe and throughout the world. Given the novelty of this technique, questions have been raised about the health outcome of children born through ICSI. In addition, researchers have questioned the impact of this technology on family relationships. The long-term treatment and invasive procedure of ICSI is likely to be associated with increased marital and parental stress, compared to normal conception. Furthermore, this treatment of fertile female ‘patients’ due to a fertility problem of their male partner might influence the partner relationship and even the family dynamics after the child is born. How do these families cope, given these assumptions? The aim of the present research is to investigate the implications on both physical and psychosocial development of eight to ten year old children born after ICSI treatment. Data from ICSI children will be compared with those of a control group of normally conceived children, matched according to socio-demographic factors. This program is a follow-up of the EU-project that has been initiated with children at age five. More specifically, this research wants to focus on particular characteristics at the pre-pubertal age. Children’s intellectual development is evaluated, as well as their psychomotor development. Family relationships as experienced by the child are evaluated through social-emotional assessment. The parents are asked to fill out questionnaires concerning stress in the parent-child interaction, their general health and marital relationship, commitment to their child and to their work, their child’s behavior, and their child’s temperament. This research is conducted in close co-operation with both the Center for Reproductive Medicine of the AZ-VUB (prof. Dr. A. Van Steirteghem) and the Center for Medical Genetics of the AZ-VUB (prof. Dr. I. Liebaers and Dr. M. Bonduelle). The researcher aims at obtaining a PhD, with grants of both “Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen” and “Onderzoeksraad VUB”. 
Egg being injected with sperm-ICSI needle containing a sperm is penetrating egg from right. Holding pipette at left PublicationsContact
|
©2004 • Vrije Universiteit Brussel • Pleinlaan 2 • 1050 Elsene • Tel.: 02/629.21.11 • info@vub.ac.be