Children born through IVF treatment may face a higher incidence of birth defects. Researchers from t...
Children born through IVF treatment may face a higher incidence of birth defects. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, USA found children born in this manner up to 30% more likely to suffer from certain health problems and genetic flaws. These include heart valve defects, cleft lip and palate, and digestive system abnormalities.
Guidance from the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is to be updated in light of the new information. Prospective parents are able to access the potential risks on the HFEA's website from this month. The HFEA's code of practice says clinicians must tell patients about the possible side effects and risks of treatment, including any risks for the child. More than 12,000 babies were born in the UK in 2006 as a result of IVF.
