IVF Ups Pre-eclampsia Risk

In vitro fertilization (IVF) increases the chances of pre-eclampsia - a potentially fatal pregnancy condition by almost 41 percent, claims research. According to experts from US universities and research centres including the National Institutes of Health, data from six studies has found that the risk of pre-eclampsia was much higher in IVF pregnancies than among those conceived naturally, the Daily Express reported.

The data included pregnancies from standard IVF and IVF using donor eggs, whereas control groups included women who conceived naturally and those who had artificial insemination.

The researchers, who are presenting their findings at the study at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) conference in Orlando, found that the risk of pre-eclampsia was 41% higher in the IVF groups than in the control groups.

Pre-eclampsia is a medical condition in which hypertension arises in pregnancy in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine, which usually occurs from around 20 weeks of pregnancy and can lead to women suffering high blood pressure, protein in the urine and fluid retention.

Source-ANI