TOPLINE

Childhood adversity was associated with distinct patterns of parity and higher odds of infertility, preterm birth, and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth in women. No significant associations were observed between childhood adversities and gestational diabetes (GD) or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).

METHODOLOGY

• Researchers conducted a population-based cross-sectional study by linking data from two large Norwegian health surveys with national birth registry data to assess associations between childhood adversities and reproductive health outcomes.
• The analysis included 27,453 women born in 1950 or later; 27,259 were included in parity analyses, 22,071 were included in infertility analyses, and 23,083 were included in adverse pregnancy outcome analyses.
• Childhood adversity was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire that covered childhood quality, parental divorce or death, exposure to a dysfunctional family environment, struggling with bad childhood memories, and the lack of support from a trusted adult.
• Outcomes included parity; self-reported infertility; and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as GD, HDP, preterm birth, and SGA infants.

TAKEAWAY

• Childhood adversity was associated with distinct patterns of parity, including higher odds of nulliparity, having one child, and having four or more children; the strongest associations were observed between nulliparity and difficult childhood (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.83; 95% CI, 1.58-2.11) and bad childhood memories (aOR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.55-2.13).
• Women reporting difficult childhood had 35% higher odds of infertility (aOR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.17-1.55).
• Difficult childhood, parental divorce or death, and struggling with bad childhood memories were associated with 21%-36% higher odds of delivering a baby with SGA, and childhood quality and dealing with bad memories were linked to 25% and 33% higher odds of preterm birth, respectively.
• No significant associations were observed between childhood adversities and GD or HDP.

IN PRACTICE

"From a broader perspective, childhood adversity may represent an underrecognized determinant of declining fertility rates. This underscores the need to consider the entire maternal experience in clinical care, broader public health, and social policy," the authors wrote.

"Early identification and prevention among children at risk of childhood adversity could promote reproductive wellbeing and population sustainability," they added.

SOURCE

This study was led by Selma Bromark, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. It was published online on July 27, 2026, in Fertility and Sterility.

LIMITATIONS

The study relied on self-reported data for childhood adversity and lacked data on the timing, duration, and severity of exposures. Childhood socioeconomic status or relevant proxy variables were not adjusted. Data on women with infertility durations less than 12 months were not available, and primary and secondary infertility could not be distinguished.

DISCLOSURES

The funding information for the study was not provided. Two authors reported receiving support from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Levanger Norwegian Women's Public Health Association. One author declared receiving a speaker honorarium from Boehringer Ingelheim unrelated to this work.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.