Children Conceived Using Infertility Treatments May Not Have Developmental Delays

Women who are suffering from complications of pregnancy, infertility, etc. opt for assisted reproductive technologies like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). But once they choose this procedure they are prone to certain stigma or fears regarding complications after childbirth.//Many couples worry that their newborn may have birth defects, mental abnormalities or developmental delays. But a recent study has given an added hope for such couples by revealing that IVF does not pose any risk of developmental delays in newborns.

The study published in the Journal JAMA Pediatrics was led by Dr. Edwina Yeung, an investigator at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Researchers reviewed data on 4,824 mothers of 5,841 children collected between 2008 and 2010 in New York state. Among them,1,830 were conceived with IVF and 2,074 were twins.

The development delays were analyzed by questionnaires at 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months. They found that 13 percent of children conceived with IVF had a delay, while 18 percent of those not conceived with the treatment had a delay.

Researchers found no significant difference between IVF and non-treatment groups of children with developmental delays.The study also showed that children conceived through IVF were not at greater risk of developmental disabilities such as learning disabilities, speech or language disorders, or autism.

"When we began our study, there was little research on the potential effects of conception via fertility treatments on U.S. Children. Our results provide reassurance to the thousands of couples who have relied on these treatments to establish their families,” said Dr. Edwina Yeung.

Source-Medindia