Babies conceived through assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization have a 36% higher risk of developing serious heart defects than children conceived naturally, a new study has found.
Still, heart defects are relatively rare. The study authors found that 1.15% of naturally conceived babies and 1.84% of babies born after assisted reproductive technology had these symptoms. The risk rose to 2.47% for IVF babies born as multiples.
The study is one of the largest to date and is based on an analysis of more than 7.7 million births in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
“Previous studies have shown that assisted reproductive technology increases the risks for babies conceived. These include premature birth and low birth weight,” said study lead author Gothenburg, Sweden. said Ulla Britt Wennerholm of the university. “We wanted to investigate whether babies born after assisted reproductive technology have a higher risk of heart defects.”
Wennerholm’s team compared data on babies born naturally and through in vitro fertilization. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). During IVF, a single sperm is injected directly into the egg. and frozen embryos.
The researchers then looked at how many babies in each group were diagnosed with serious heart defects either in utero or within the first year of life.
The study authors took into account factors such as the mother’s age at birth, smoking during pregnancy, and whether she had diabetes or a history of heart defects.
Researchers hope their findings, published last week in the European Heart Journal, will lead to timely diagnosis of heart defects and life-saving interventions.
“Congenital heart defects can be very serious and require specialized surgery while babies are young, so knowing which babies are most at risk is a great way to prevent heart disease as early as possible.” It helps us diagnose and ensure appropriate care and treatment,” Wennerholm said. .
According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, 2.5% of births in the United States are the result of successful IVF treatments.
In Denmark, IVF accounts for approximately 9% of births, the highest percentage of any country.
“As more people become pregnant with the help of assisted reproductive technology, we might expect to see an increase in cases of congenital heart disease around the world,” Wennerholm said.
Wennerholm and her team believe there may be a link between infertile parents and babies born with heart defects. “The fact that the risk of heart defects is similar regardless of the type of assisted reproductive technology used may indicate that there are common factors underlying infertility.” I have heart disease and my baby has congenital heart disease,” she said.
In vitro fertilization was developed in the 1970s primarily to help women with blocked fallopian tubes.
Since its inception, this technology has been used to help conceive in other situations, including women who frequently miscarry, men with infertility, and couples considering the use of surrogate mothers.
In vitro fertilization, the most common form of assisted reproduction, eggs are collected from a woman, combined with sperm in a laboratory to form an embryo, and implanted into the uterus.
Patients can have their embryos tested for genetic abnormalities before implantation.
The success rate for genetically healthy embryos is 60% to 65%.. These chances become less likely if the woman is older or has a uterine condition that makes it difficult for the embryo to implant.
Earlier this year, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, Non-invasive methods for more accurate predictions Quality of embryos created by in vitro fertilization.
The cost of one cycle of IVF can range from $10,000 to $25,000, depending on the various drugs, fees, procedures, and consultations required for success.
It may take several rounds before the baby is born.
