IVF Babies More Prone to Infant Deaths, Serious Birth Problems

A major new study in Australia suggests IVF babies are twice likely to suffer from serious birth complications than babies conceived naturally. Scientists analysed 17 years of data and arrived at the conclusion that traditional IVF or the direct injection of sperm into a woman's egg cells has a high risk of complications.

The research study considered the risk of low birth weight, still birth, premature birth and infant death to evaluate 300,000 births in South Australia. Among the total births, 4,300 were IVF babies.

However, the UK fertility experts have contradicted the Australian researchers and called the results of the study "bad science." Citing the Australian study's increased risks, fertility experts have said they are associated with couples who have a history of infertility rather than the choice to use IVF treatment.

Professor Michael Davies, lead researcher from the University of Adelaide Robinson Institute explained babies resulting from IVF were twice as likely to be stillborn, more than twice as likely to be born pre-term and three times likely to have low birth weight. IVF babies were more likely to die within the first 28 days of their lives.

According to Dr Dagan Wells, an Oxford University fertility expert, some "adverse" outcomes may be higher in IVF babies, but the overall risk is low. Mr Wells noted the study had a more significant conclusion in which mums with a history of infertility but did not opt for IVF faced high risks.

Mr Wells, the study's reference to problems seen in IVF babies after birth, said they have something to do with infertility rather than the IVF itself. He believes couples with reduced fertility may find IVF to reduce the said risks compared to babies born from natural conception. He also doubts the Australian study will discourage couples from trying IVF treatment.

A previous study related stillbirth, low birth weight and birth defects to obesity. Pregnant women weighing as high as 300 kilogrammes and with heavy body mass index (BMI) who are giving birth in Queensland may risk not only their lives but also their babies. Brisbane researchers found that being overweight and pregnant do not only affect women but also their unborn children. Obesity has been found to contribute to the increase of stillbirths, infant deaths and birth defects.