In recent years there have been a number of IVF studies carried out as research into this new area of medicine increases.
A survey published in Western Australia in 2002 reported that the risk of major birth defects in IVF babies had increased two-fold.
Another study two years later showed a 29 per cent increase in major birth defects among IVF babies.
Then in 2007 further research revealed a 30 per cent such increase.
Now in 2009 we have another report published, and a new health alert relating to IVF babies issued by the UK government.
Research by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which involved over 18,500 births, showed IVF babies were twice as likely to have heart defects and four and a half times more likely to be susceptible to digestive tract disorders.
The risks of bowel disorders and cleft lip were also up by 3.
7 times and 4 times, respectively.
This report was published online in February 2009 and was the catalyst in causing the UK health alert to be issued.
Further findings were that IVF babies are more likely to suffer from heart valve defects and that there is a small, but increased, risk of rare genetic disorders including Angelman Syndrome, which leads to delays in development, and Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, a common symptom of which is learning difficulties and a hole in the abdomen.
Whatever the reasons for this may be, it is only fair that couples seeking IVF treatment and information should be aware of these findings.
If children are born with physical or mental disabilities it is the parents who stand to suffer as well as the children themselves.
IVF specialist Richard Kennedy of the British Fertility Society commented on the findings by saying, "We have known for some time that there is a slightly increased risk of abnormalities for all IVF treatments, not just ICSI.
It is only right that patients should be told about this and it is a good thing that the HFEA is updating its guidance.
"What we need to remember is that the overall risks of an abnormality occurring is increased with IVF, but it is still a small risk.
Nevertheless, patients still need to be aware.
" According to the Society's figures, around 3.
5 per cent of IVF babies suffer from some kind of birth defect, as against 2.
5 per cent of the general population.
A spokeswoman from the campaign group Comment of Reproductive Ethics said, "IVF should never be the first port of call for someone trying to conceive and we need a lot more money to go into research to help restore fertility for natural conception.
"IVF is often used when couples are 'sub-fertile', meaning they take longer to conceive, or by single women wishing to conceive using donor sperm.
Patients need to consider the risks.
" Why should it be that IVF babies carry such an increased risk of birth defects? One theory is that, when it comes to fertility, nature favours healthy couples in order to give the offspring the best possible chance in life.
Couples who don't measure up to nature's health requirements, as far as their ability to pass on good health to their children is concerned, are less likely to be able to conceive.
Poor egg or sperm quality would tend to result in offspring with health defects, unable to survive long in the hostile, pre-civilization environment, which has prevailed for ninety nine per cent of mankind's existence.
So nature prevents them from being born in the first place.
But although modern civilization has stymied nature in providing an environment in which children who would otherwise not survive do in fact survive with the help of modern medicine and technology, it has also created an environment in which otherwise healthy couples who should have no difficulty in conceiving do in many cases have great difficulty.
This is an environment of stress and worry, of deadlines to meet and phone calls to make, clients or bosses to satisfy and bills to pay.
If this is a fair description of your lifestyle and you are trying to conceive a baby as well, then you probably don't actually need IVF treatment.
What you DO need is far more simple and less expensive.
A survey published in Western Australia in 2002 reported that the risk of major birth defects in IVF babies had increased two-fold.
Another study two years later showed a 29 per cent increase in major birth defects among IVF babies.
Then in 2007 further research revealed a 30 per cent such increase.
Now in 2009 we have another report published, and a new health alert relating to IVF babies issued by the UK government.
Research by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which involved over 18,500 births, showed IVF babies were twice as likely to have heart defects and four and a half times more likely to be susceptible to digestive tract disorders.
The risks of bowel disorders and cleft lip were also up by 3.
7 times and 4 times, respectively.
This report was published online in February 2009 and was the catalyst in causing the UK health alert to be issued.
Further findings were that IVF babies are more likely to suffer from heart valve defects and that there is a small, but increased, risk of rare genetic disorders including Angelman Syndrome, which leads to delays in development, and Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, a common symptom of which is learning difficulties and a hole in the abdomen.
Whatever the reasons for this may be, it is only fair that couples seeking IVF treatment and information should be aware of these findings.
If children are born with physical or mental disabilities it is the parents who stand to suffer as well as the children themselves.
IVF specialist Richard Kennedy of the British Fertility Society commented on the findings by saying, "We have known for some time that there is a slightly increased risk of abnormalities for all IVF treatments, not just ICSI.
It is only right that patients should be told about this and it is a good thing that the HFEA is updating its guidance.
"What we need to remember is that the overall risks of an abnormality occurring is increased with IVF, but it is still a small risk.
Nevertheless, patients still need to be aware.
" According to the Society's figures, around 3.
5 per cent of IVF babies suffer from some kind of birth defect, as against 2.
5 per cent of the general population.
A spokeswoman from the campaign group Comment of Reproductive Ethics said, "IVF should never be the first port of call for someone trying to conceive and we need a lot more money to go into research to help restore fertility for natural conception.
"IVF is often used when couples are 'sub-fertile', meaning they take longer to conceive, or by single women wishing to conceive using donor sperm.
Patients need to consider the risks.
" Why should it be that IVF babies carry such an increased risk of birth defects? One theory is that, when it comes to fertility, nature favours healthy couples in order to give the offspring the best possible chance in life.
Couples who don't measure up to nature's health requirements, as far as their ability to pass on good health to their children is concerned, are less likely to be able to conceive.
Poor egg or sperm quality would tend to result in offspring with health defects, unable to survive long in the hostile, pre-civilization environment, which has prevailed for ninety nine per cent of mankind's existence.
So nature prevents them from being born in the first place.
But although modern civilization has stymied nature in providing an environment in which children who would otherwise not survive do in fact survive with the help of modern medicine and technology, it has also created an environment in which otherwise healthy couples who should have no difficulty in conceiving do in many cases have great difficulty.
This is an environment of stress and worry, of deadlines to meet and phone calls to make, clients or bosses to satisfy and bills to pay.
If this is a fair description of your lifestyle and you are trying to conceive a baby as well, then you probably don't actually need IVF treatment.
What you DO need is far more simple and less expensive.
Source...