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Fertility treatments linked to birth defects
Children conceived via ART may be at a greater risk of birth defects
Chelsea Peck, Daily Vidette Staff Writer
Issue date: 12/2/08 Section: News
A recent study has shown that children born from Assisted Reproductive Technology may be at a greater risk of birth defects than children conceived naturally.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found certain birth defects were two to four times more likely among infants born with the help of fertility treatments than those not.
Couples planning to use fertility treatments are to be made aware of all dangers before the final decision is made.
"They have a pre-conceptual counsel session. Usually the fertility specialist goes over the risks with the couple," Dr. Michael Cardwell, Bloomington OB/GYN, said. "It depends on age of [the] mother and the history as to some of the risks."
Children conceived via ART have twice the risk of having a hole in the heart, more than twice the risk of cleft lip with or without cleft palate and four times the risk of two particular gastrointestinal defects.
Couples should also be made aware of the other risks they could face when using fertility treatments.
"There are higher incidents of twins and triplets when using fertility treatments," Cardwell said. "If the mother has twins, she would be at increased risk of premature birth, diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy."
The study found the link between ART and single births, but not multiple births. Mothers can strengthen their odds against birthing a child with a birth defect by taking prenatal vitamins, avoiding smoking and eating healthy.
"If the mother starts her prenatal vitamins before conception it decreases incidents of birth defects. We also encourage mothers to take at least a folic acid supplement as well," Cardwell said.
"A lot of women are waiting to start families later in life," Dr. Harold Nord, Bloomington OB/GYN, added. "We are dealing with more infertility problems as women get older.
"Some women may have had their tubes tied or are re-married and want to have more children. We see a rise in infertility with women who had their tubes tied already or males who had vasectomies."
Couples worried about getting pregnant can almost fully rely on ART for conception.
"Most couples know they can probably get pregnant using ART. The incident of twins or triplets is 10 percent or greater compared to one percent of the normal population not using fertility treatments," Cardwell said.
Nord also noted that within the first year of using fertility treatments, women have an 80 percent chance of getting pregnant. The second year gives them a 90 percent chance.
"You are looking at 10 percent of women who are trying to get pregnant and trying to figure out why they are infertile," Nord said.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found certain birth defects were two to four times more likely among infants born with the help of fertility treatments than those not.
Couples planning to use fertility treatments are to be made aware of all dangers before the final decision is made.
"They have a pre-conceptual counsel session. Usually the fertility specialist goes over the risks with the couple," Dr. Michael Cardwell, Bloomington OB/GYN, said. "It depends on age of [the] mother and the history as to some of the risks."
Children conceived via ART have twice the risk of having a hole in the heart, more than twice the risk of cleft lip with or without cleft palate and four times the risk of two particular gastrointestinal defects.
Couples should also be made aware of the other risks they could face when using fertility treatments.
"There are higher incidents of twins and triplets when using fertility treatments," Cardwell said. "If the mother has twins, she would be at increased risk of premature birth, diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy."
The study found the link between ART and single births, but not multiple births. Mothers can strengthen their odds against birthing a child with a birth defect by taking prenatal vitamins, avoiding smoking and eating healthy.
"If the mother starts her prenatal vitamins before conception it decreases incidents of birth defects. We also encourage mothers to take at least a folic acid supplement as well," Cardwell said.
"A lot of women are waiting to start families later in life," Dr. Harold Nord, Bloomington OB/GYN, added. "We are dealing with more infertility problems as women get older.
"Some women may have had their tubes tied or are re-married and want to have more children. We see a rise in infertility with women who had their tubes tied already or males who had vasectomies."
Couples worried about getting pregnant can almost fully rely on ART for conception.
"Most couples know they can probably get pregnant using ART. The incident of twins or triplets is 10 percent or greater compared to one percent of the normal population not using fertility treatments," Cardwell said.
Nord also noted that within the first year of using fertility treatments, women have an 80 percent chance of getting pregnant. The second year gives them a 90 percent chance.
"You are looking at 10 percent of women who are trying to get pregnant and trying to figure out why they are infertile," Nord said.
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