PET PET
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
Become a Friend Donate
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements
PETBioNewsNewsIVF birth problems due to infertility not technology

BioNews

IVF birth problems due to infertility not technology

Published 9 June 2009 posted in News and appears in BioNews 469

Author

Dr Rebecca Robey

Image by Sílvia Ferreira, Cristina Lopo and Eileen Gentleman via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a single human stem cell embedded within a porous hydrogel matrix (false colour).
CC BY 4.0
Image by Sílvia Ferreira, Cristina Lopo and Eileen Gentleman via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a single human stem cell embedded within a porous hydrogel matrix (false-coloured cryogenic scanning electron micrograph).

The increased risk of complications during pregnancy and at birth observed in babies conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) may be the result of parent's underlying infertility problems rather than the technology itself, a new study has revealed. In a report published in The Lancet, researchers found...

The increased risk of complications during pregnancy and at birth observed in babies conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) may be the result of parent's underlying infertility problems rather than the technology itself, a new study has revealed. In a report published in The Lancet, researchers found that children conceived through ART were born earlier, had a lower average birth weight and were more at risk of being still born than naturally-conceived children in the general population. However, their birth statistics were no different from those of their naturally-conceived siblings. This suggests that the problems associated with ART may in fact arise from the same inherent factors that cause the couple's infertility.


Between one and four per cent of babies born in Europe are conceived through ART, and it is well known that these children are more likely to have problems before, during and after birth. There has been concern that this is attributable to the technologies used - the techniques for storing sperm and eggs, fertilisation and implantation. The new study, led by Dr Liv Bente Romundstad from St Olav's University Hospital in Trondheim, Norway, sought to investigate this further by examining detailed records kept at the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. The researchers looked at more than 1.2 million births from January 1984 to June 2006 and compared 1,200,922 births following natural conception with 8,229 births after ART. They examined only single pregnancies, as twins and triplets are already known to have a greater risk of pre- and post-natal problems.


When the researchers compared the two groups as a whole, their analysis was in line with previous findings. Babies conceived through ART were on average 25 grams lighter, born two days earlier, and were at greater risk of having a low weight for their gestational age or dying in the period around birth. However, the researchers then narrowed their investigation to include only children born to 2, 546 women who had conceived at least one child naturally and at least one child through ART. They found that amongst these children, there was no difference in the likelihood of complications after ART compared to natural conception. Interestingly, babies conceived through ART were less likely to be still-born than their naturally-conceived siblings.


Dr Romundstad concluded that 'the adverse outcomes of assisted fertilisation that we noted compared with those in the general population could therefore be attributable to the factors leading to infertility, rather than to factors related to the reproductive technology'. Dr Allan Pacey of the University of Sheffield, UK, and the British Fertility Society commented to BBC News Online: 'It is reassuring to see that, in this study at least, the laboratory procedures [used in ART] were not contributing to adverse birth outcomes for those born'.

Related Articles

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
News
4 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

Little difference in mental health outcomes of teenagers conceived via fertility treatment

by Clíona Farrell

Teenagers born through fertility treatment have a one percent higher prevalence of mental health disorders, but no difference in school performance, new study shows...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
18 April 2017 • 2 minutes read

New study on genetic risks of IVF

by Sarah Pritchard

A large study has investigated the potential genetic risks to children conceived by in vitro fertilisation (IVF). It confirms earlier research indicating that babies born following assisted conception have a small increased risk of certain genetic health problems. The New York Times reports that in November last...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
13 February 2013 • 1 minute read

Scientists call for more research into infertility rates

by Dr Charlotte Maden

A report printed in the British Medical Journal this week about the trends in fecundity over time has called for more studies into the environmental factors contributing to reduced fertility rates. Infertility is a common problem in affluent societies, affecting around 15 per cent of couples trying...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
9 June 2009 • 2 minutes read

New study links birth defects with fertility treatments

by MacKenna Roberts

Contrary to some earlier findings, a large Canadian study links an increase in birth defects with babies born through fertility treatments. According to the results of the study, which was presented at a Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine meeting in San Francisco, the overall risk appears minimal - less...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
9 June 2009 • 2 minutes read

Couples with fertility problems pass on higher health risks to children?

by Dr Antony Starza-Allen

Research presented at the recent annual conference of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) suggests that couples with fertility problems pass on higher health risks to their children than do normally conceiving couples. The findings, given by Professor Mary Croughan from the University of California, US...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
9 June 2009 • 2 minutes read

No link between birth defects and fertility treatments

by BioNews

Babies conceived using fertility treatments, including IVF, are at no more risk of birth defects than naturally conceived infants, a large US study shows. Researchers at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut looked at data from over 36,000 pregnancies, around five per cent of which arose following fertility treatments. But their findings...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
9 June 2009 • 3 minutes read

Half of all IVF embryos could have genetic errors

by BioNews

Around half of all the eggs produced by both older and younger women could have genetic errors, three new US studies suggest. The findings, reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Montreal, Canada, have lead to calls from some fertility experts to screen...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
9 June 2009 • 1 minute read

IVF babies more likely to be premature

by BioNews

According to a study reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, twins conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) are more likely to be born prematurely and delivered by Caesarean than those conceived through sexual intercourse. Researchers at the University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada compared 2,302 twins conceived through...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
9 June 2009 • 2 minutes read

Study links IVF to birth problems

by BioNews

Babies born following fertility treatment are more likely to be premature and to have a lower birth weight than those conceived naturally, according to a group of Dutch and Australian researchers. Their findings, published in the British Medical Journal, indicate that single IVF babies are more likely to face birth...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
9 June 2009 • 2 minutes read

Early births linked to fertility problems

by BioNews

Couples with fertility problems are more likely to have premature babies, low birth weight babies and a Caesarean birth, according to a new study based on a registry of 56,000 births. The increased risks apply to couples who eventually conceive naturally, as well as those who undergo fertility treatment. The...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« 70-year-old claimed to be world's oldest mother

Data-Label The UK's Leading Supplier Of Medical Labels & Asset Labels

RetiringDentist.co.uk The UK's Leading M&A Company.
easyfundraising
amazon

This month in BioNews

  • Popular
  • Recent
13 June 2022 • 2 minutes read

Drop in diversity of blood stem cells leads to old-age health issues

5 July 2022 • 1 minute read

No difference between fresh and frozen sperm for IUI

4 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

Shorter IVF protocol reduces risk of OHSS

4 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

USA scrambles to understand implications of Roe v Wade on fertility industry

4 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

Genetic and epigenetic causes of IVF embryo arrest discovered

4 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

Dutch donor-conceived people seek answers

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
PET PET

PET is an independent charity that improves choices for people affected by infertility and genetic conditions.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • BioNews
  • Events
  • Engagement
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us

BioNews

  • News
  • Comment
  • Reviews
  • Elsewhere
  • Topics
  • Glossary
  • Newsletters

Other

  • My Account
  • Subscribe

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856