Babies born through in vitro fertilization (IVF) are miracles to their parents. However, recent studies have shown that IVF babies might suffer from more diseases as they grow older.
It is still unknown if the procedure causes problems later in life
Currently, the oldest person to be born through IVF is Louise Brown, 38, from the UK. And while Louise is healthy, and no signs of disease are evident, we still can’t rule out the fact that babies born through IVF might have shorter lifespans or problems later on in their lives.
This is because in the process of natural conception, the strongest and healthiest sperm are the ones who reach the egg and fertilize it. Millions of sperm cells swim their way towards the woman’s egg, and the strongest sperm gets the chance to reach the egg and fertilize it.
However, with IVF, the sperm is usually chosen by a lab technician, and there’s no assurance that the sperm they chose would be the strongest or the healthiest.
IVF babies might be more likely to get cancer
In a recent study conducted on IVF babies, researchers found that “Children conceived after fertility treatments are at an increased risk for pediatric neoplasms [abnormal tissue growth associated with cancer].”
The researchers were looking for a connection between fertility treatments and malignancies in children. The researchers then found that children born from IVF were 2.5 times more likely to develop these “neoplasms” which can cause cancer.
This is why for parents who choose to undergo IVF in order to have a child, they should be well-informed on the potential risks as well as the fact that the procedure is still in it’s early stages.
There’s nothing wrong with IVF
In spite of these risks, for a lot of parents, IVF is the only way for them to have a child and start a family. For parents, the decision between not having a child or having a child that might potentially be at risk for diseases as they grow older is a very difficult one.
Hence, it’s important for parents to make sure that if they choose to have a child through IVF, they closely monitor their child’s health, and get a consultation with a doctor who’s an expert in that field.
Hopefully in the future, the technology to help couples conceive would be further improved, so that the risks involved with IVF can be minimized and the children born through this procedure can grow up to be healthy.
Sources: nypost.com, telegraph.co.uk
READ: 6 Doctor recommended strategies for getting pregnant other than IVF
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