St Mary's Assisted Reproductive Technology and Cardiometabolic Health: Modifiable Targets for Multimorbidity Prevention (START-HEALThY)

The main causes of death in women are conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease, CVD). Women who have difficulties getting pregnant (infertility) may be at increased risk, but the reasons for this are not clear. Infertility itself may be linked with poorer heart and blood vessel health, or fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) could increase the risk.

The study aims to understand the practicalities of obtaining detailed profiling of women's pre- and post- pregnancy heart, blood vessel and metabolic health. Two groups of women in Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, will be recruited over 2 years: 1) women planning a pregnancy, either spontaneously or with IVF treatment after infertility, 2) women who previously took part in a pregnancy health study after IVF or non-IVF conception.

Participants will attend a single research appointment where they will undergo a cardiometabolic health assessment. They will have their BMI calculated, body composition measured, a measurement of how well their blood vessels work using a blood pressure cuff around the arm and/or finger and blood sampling performed. A blood pressure cuff as well as a blood sugar sensor may be fitted to be worn after the appointment. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire(s), with follow-up for up to 13 months.

The cardiometabolic health of those who conceived with or without IVF treatment and with or without a history of infertility will be compared at both time points to investigate the possibility of links between infertility, IVF processes and CVD risk and to understand any potential barriers to recruitment of individuals at either time point to guide future studies. This information could then be used in a full-scale study, including in pregnancy, to improve care and promote lifelong health for women with infertility.