Did you know that 4 million children have now been born via IVF since the start of assisted reproductive technologies in 1978? Doctors say that it is generally safe and healthy babies have been born after IVF, but as for its long-term consequences, they just don’t know.
A regulatory body called the International Committee Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Techniques has been monitoring the health and long-term outcome for around 75% of those children, and their mothers.
Safety Levels of IVF
Pregnancy and childbirth carries certain risks anyway, as even in healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies, there is some small risk. Adding to this is the fact that women seeking IVF have additional reproductive health problems that may impact on the pregnancy. A third aspect is iatrogenic complications. Iatrogenic means doctor-caused and refers to side effects resulting from IVF drugs, surgical procedures or any other fertility treatment used as part of the process. Another type of iatrogenic complication is the increased incidence of multiple births. Many women going through the agony of infertility may be overjoyed at the thought of twins or more, but in medical terms this means increased risks in pregnancy, both to the mother and the babies, increased risk of premature birth and a higher likelihood of a caesarean section. Caesareans have three times the risk of death for the mother, compared with vaginal birth.
Professor Nygren, from the monitoring committee, said
“To pronounce IVF as safe would be an oversimplification. Nothing is totally safe. For example, there is no such thing as a zero risk pregnancy.
Ideally we want safety for IVF children and mothers to be as good as safety for anyone. Studies have shown this is not completely achievable."
A review of all the safety data of IVF looked at the following subjects:
Early Pregnancy Loss and Obstetric Risk
Data indicated that there is no increased risk of spontaneous abortion after IVF.
IVF pregnancies are higher risk pregnancies because there is greater chance of placental function problems and pre-eclampsia, particularly for iatrogenic multiple pregnancies.
Stillbirth, Neonatal Risk and Birth Defects
Both stillbirths and neonatal deaths are elevated when compared to naturally conceived children. Prematurity was very much increased due to multiple births and there was a small increase for singletons.
The risk of birth defects is elevated after IVF. This is probably due to the parents being infertile or sub-fertile. This is nature’s way to prevent babies with defects.
Experimental IVF Procedures
New techniques for assisted reproduction are not yet known to be safe. Examples include blastocyst culture and vitrification (flash freezing). The introduction of new methods in the laboratory are not screened the way new drugs are.
Genetic Risks
There appears to be an increased risk of imprinting problems resulting in severe syndromes such as Angelman Syndrome. Beckwith-Wiedemans Syndrome was also found at more than double the rate expected. When 32,000 IVF children were studied, seven of them were found to have Beckwith-Wiedemans Syndrome when only three cases had been expected.
Health Risks in Later Life
Information on the long-term health of IVF children is not known as there are relatively few who have reached adulthood. The reproductive health of the IVF adults has not been studied.
The Conclusion: Is IVF Safe?
No, not totally safe. Efforts should be made to reduce current risks.
Source:
International Federation of Fertility Societies, Press Release, 12th September 2010.
Joanna Karpasea-Jones - I have been a health writer since 1997 when I published my own newsletter, SHOTS. I have written 2 books on childhood health, and write ...
