A large study from European Society of Cardiology found that babies conceived through fertility treatments, like IVF, have a 36% higher chance of being born with severe heart defects. This is important because heart defects are the most common type of congenital disability, and some can be life-threatening. The risk is significantly higher in multiple births, which are more familiar with fertility treatments.
The study examined over 7.7 million children born in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden from 1984 to 2015. Researchers compared babies born through fertility treatments, like IVF and sperm injection, with those conceived naturally.
They checked how many in each group had severe heart defects, considering factors like the mother’s age, smoking, diabetes, and year and country of birth.
The study found that babies born through fertility treatments have a 36% higher risk of heart defects compared to naturally conceived babies (1.84% vs. 1.15%). This risk was the same no matter the type of fertility treatment used.
The risk was higher in twins or triplets from assisted reproduction (2.47%) than in single babies (1.62%). Early diagnosis is essential, as heart defects can be severe and require surgery.
The study found that babies born through fertility treatments have a 36% higher risk of heart defects compared to naturally conceived babies (1.84% vs. 1.15%). This risk was the same no matter the type of fertility treatment used.
The risk was higher in twins or triplets from assisted reproduction (2.47%) than in single babies (1.62%). Early diagnosis is essential, as heart defects can be severe and require surgery.
Journal reference :
- Nona Sargisian, Max Petzold, et al., Congenital heart defects in children born after assisted reproductive technology: a CoNARTaS study. European Heart Journal. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae572.
