Assisted conception for single mothers by choice yields comparable birth outcomes

A recent study by researchers at UCL has found that children born to single mothers who choose medically assisted reproduction (MAR) have birth outcomes comparable to those born to partnered mothers who conceive naturally. The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, analyzed data from over 500,000 Finnish firstborn babies conceived between 1996 and 2020.

MAR was used in 7.8% of pregnancies, with 5.4% of these births resulting from single mothers. After accounting for factors such as age, income, education, and multiple births, the researchers found that single mothers by choice had largely similar birth outcomes to partnered mothers who conceived naturally. Co-author Professor Alice Goisis explained that while single mothers by choice tend to be older and may experience higher stress levels, they typically have higher education and income levels, as well as strong fertility intentions—all factors associated with favorable birth outcomes.

The study suggests that single mothers by choice should be recognized as a distinct group with unique characteristics, rather than being generalized along with other single mothers. The researchers emphasize the need for further understanding of how single motherhood by choice impacts children's health outcomes, particularly as this demographic grows in number.