Assisted conception for single mothers by choice yields comparable birth outcomes
· Medical Xpressedited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
Sadie Harley
Scientific Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process
Andrew Zinin
Chief Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
fact-checked
peer-reviewed publication
trusted source
proofread
The GIST Add as preferred source
The children of single mothers who conceive through medically assisted reproduction (MAR) have birth outcomes similar to those of babies born to partnered mothers who conceived naturally, a UCL-led study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology has found.
Babies of single mothers by choice were also less likely to have low birth weight or to be born preterm than babies of single mothers who conceived naturally, as well as children of partnered mothers who conceived with MAR techniques such as IVF.
Corresponding author Dr. Alina Pelikh (UCL Social Research Institute) said, "Since the birth of the first IVF baby in 1978, over 10 million children worldwide have been conceived through assisted reproduction techniques. As more women choose to become mothers without a partner and assisted reproduction becomes increasingly accessible, the number of single mothers 'by choice' is steadily growing. Yet we know remarkably little about the health and development of their children."
The study used Finnish population data from over 500,000 firstborn babies between 1996 and 2020. On average, MAR was used in 7.8% of pregnancies. Of this group, 5.4% were conceived while the mother was single, a figure that rose from 2.2% in 1996–2000 to 10.2% by 2016–2020.
The researchers studied several birth outcomes, including low birth weight (under 2.5 kg) and preterm birth (less than 37 weeks). They compared birth outcomes across four groups of women: single women who had used MAR to conceive (0.4%); single women who had conceived spontaneously (6.9%); partnered women who had conceived spontaneously (85.3%); and partnered women who had used MAR to conceive (7.4%).
Before accounting for differences between mothers, babies born to single mothers by choice had slightly poorer average birth outcomes. Once differences in maternal characteristics (such as age, income and education) and whether the child was part of a multiple birth (which is more common among MAR births and highly correlated with poorer birth outcomes) were taken into account, birth outcomes for children of single mothers by choice were largely similar to those of babies born to partnered mothers who had conceived without MAR.
Co-author Professor Alice Goisis (UCL Social Research Institute) said, "While single mothers by choice tend to be older than other mothers and may experience higher levels of stress during conception and pregnancy, these women typically have higher levels of education and income and have strong fertility intentions—factors that are strongly associated with more favorable birth outcomes.
"Crucially, unlike partnered women who use IVF because they have difficulty conceiving, single mothers by choice are far less likely to have underlying fertility problems that are themselves a known risk factor for adverse birth outcomes, which may partly explain the differences observed."
These findings align with Goisis' research showing that groups who use MAR without fertility problems, such as lesbian couples, have birth outcomes similar to those of people who conceive without medical intervention.
Pelikh said, "Our findings suggest that although single mothers by choice share some characteristics with other parents, they should be understood as a unique and distinct group.
"Single mothers by choice often have strong fertility intentions, sufficient financial resources and extensive support networks. While many mothers-to-be use MAR, and many women enter parenthood without a partner, the experience of single mothers by choice should not be generalized.
"As more people delay not just parenthood, but also partnership, single motherhood by choice is likely to become more common. It is crucial that we better understand its impact on children's health outcomes."
This study used Finnish data, a context in which MAR treatment is largely publicly subsidized, resulting in a more diverse population of women accessing these services than in countries with predominantly private funding.
Publication details
Birth outcomes in single motherhood 'by choice': A register study of children conceived through medically assisted reproduction, International Journal of Epidemiology (2026).
Journal information: International Journal of Epidemiology
Key medical concepts
Birth Weight, LowPremature Birth
Clinical categories
Reproductive healthObstetrics & gynecologyWomen's healthChildren's health Provided by University College London Who's behind this story?
Sadie Harley
BSc Life Sciences & Ecology. Microbiology lab background with pharmaceutical news experience in oil, gas, and renewable industries. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
Citation: Assisted conception for single mothers by choice yields comparable birth outcomes (2026, September 22) retrieved 23 September 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-conception-mothers-choice-yields-birth.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.