IVF Risks Associated with Multiple Births

A new study suggests that IVF (in vitro fertilization) carries minimal risks in comparison with natural contraception.

Although IVF does carry major risks, such as premature birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and cerebral palsy.

Researchers Analyze Data

Alastair G. Sutcliffe, MD, of the Institute of Child Health at the University of London and Michael Ludwig, MD, of the Center for Hormonal and Metabolic Illness in Germany, studied over 30 years of collected data on IVF.

In analyzing the data the doctors found that most of the risks are not the result of the actual IVF procedure, but due to multiple births.

Twins, triplets, and other multiple-birth children have a higher risk rate of developing cerebral palsy or other birth defects than singleton children.

However, single children who are born via IVF also proved to have more health risks than naturally conceived children.

In another study that was conducted by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, researchers came across similar findings.

“The majority of problems we see with assisted reproductive technology are multiple births,” says Uma M. Reddy, MD. “But even singletons have higher risk of complications. More and more evidence suggests that it is not due to the procedure.”

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