Assisted Reproduction Puts Babies at Risk

These infants had double the risk of premature birth, and death rates were significantly higher than for babies conceived naturally. Twins conceived with medical assistance also had increased risks but they were far less marked than those found between groups of single babies. Conversely, mortality rates were significantly lower for twins conceived with medical assistance.

Women undergoing assisted reproduction should be made aware of the risks, say the authors, and more work should be done to reduce these risks. Twenty-five years after the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) baby, they conclude, serious challenges persist for reproductive medicine. The study was led by Frans M. Helmerhorst, department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive medicine, Leiden University Medical Center (The Netherlands).




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Leiden U. Med. Center