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IVF Babies More Likely To Have Health Problems and Genetic Disorders

Test tube babies are 30% more likely to have health problems says the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which is the government’s watchdog on fertility issues, has come out with a study showing that babies who are conceived with IVF treatments have a one in six change of having health problems or some kind of genetic disorder. More than 10,000 babies a year are conceived through IVF in a year in Britain.

The scientist from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention studied more than 14,000 births to gather information on babies born via IVF treatments. The studies showed that babies who were conceived via IVF, had more of a chance of suffering from a whole range of medical conditions from heart valve defects to a cleft palate. They also have a greater risk of suffering from rare genetic disorders.

There could be a couple of reason why this is. One could be the fertility drugs that are taken to help the woman become pregnant. They may lead to some of these health problems in the babies. Another reason could be that since most woman who choose to do IVF are slightly older, the woman’s eggs are not as healthy as they should be, which results in a baby who may not be healthy.

HFEA is looking to just put out this information to any couple who may be considering IVF so they know the risk. They also want to let people know that, the majority of babies that are born via IVF are healthy. IVF specialist, Robert Kennedy made this statement about the new HFEA guidelines and information, “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.”

         

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Dangers for children of Women who are obese

A new study has shown that women who are obese are more likely to have children with birth defects than slim mothers. Defects including the child’s heart and spina bifida. An estimated one in six pregnant women in Britain is now obese or overweight.

The Government was asked by experts to fund anti-obesity campaigns, targeting all women within an age range and for doctors to be educated about potential complications obese and overweight expectant mothers can expect.

Newcastle University researchers discovered that babies born to obese mothers were significantly more likely to suffer from abnormalities. More than twice as likely to be born with spina bifida, in which the spinal cord is incomplete, causing disability. 20 per cent more likely to be born with a cleft palate and 30 per cent more likely to have heart defects.

Dr Emily Gelson, from Imperial College, London said: “Increasing numbers of deaths are occurring in women with unknown heart disease but with known risk factors. The presence of these risk factors must be highlighted during pregnancy, promoting the timely diagnosis of unsuspected (heart) disease in pregnant women.”

“Only by raising the profession’s awareness of the possibility of heart disease in pregnant women will this alarming rise in the maternal mortality rate be arrested, and preferably, reversed.” She co-authored the report.