IVF babies more sickly
I know we have at least one young reader who was conceived via IVF. Am curious to know personal experiences.
And I agree with this article’s last statement. IVF should be regulated in the US, not only for the health of those born but to put a stop to those “leftover” embryos.
From London’s Daily Mail, July 23:
A study of hundreds of seven-year-olds has revealed that they are admitted to hospital much more frequently than other youngsters of the same age.
While many of their illnesses were common to all children, those born through fertility treatment suffered more fits and more conditions connected to the brain and immune system….
The British study also showed that IVF twins tend to require more hospital treatment than youngsters from single births….
Previous studies have shown that young men conceived this way are more likely to be infertile….
/IVF babies are also more likely to suffer from birth defects, including heart problems, and are thought to be at higher risk of autism and cerebral palsy….
[F]its and other conditions affecting the brain were more common in those born after IVF treatment.
These youngsters were also more prone to infections and to asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, both of which have links to the immune system….
It is possible the health problems were somehow caused by the IVF process itself.
It is also possible that chlamydia infection, stress and other factors which may have affected the mother’s fertility went on to impact on the baby’s development in the womb.
It may however be that parents who have undergone fertility treatment are simply more inclined to seek medical help.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is considering restricting the number of embryos implanted – to just one in most cases – in a bid to cut the number of multiple births. Dr Allan Pacey, of the British Fertility Society, said many of the health problems associated with IVF were linked to the high number of twins and other multiple births….
[Hat tip: Dr. Frank and LifeSiteNews.com]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Well I know I am only one IVF baby, so by no means are my experiences the same for everybody, but I can safely say that I’m very rarely ill, I maybe get sick once a year and it’s either a mild cold or a 24-hour virus. The only thing really physically “wrong” with me is psoriasis, but skin problems run in my family on both sides. Same goes for the depression, it’s a genetic thing, runs on both sides of the family.
However, it is interesting to note, my two naturally conceived siblings were/are sickly. My brother who recently turned 18 had severe allergies and asthma as a child, he also has various mental issues (mostly depression among other things, possibly Asperger’s, but that’s just my opinion really) and I have a brother who is 12 who has been hospitalized for severe asthma and allergies. The 18-year-old has grown out of his asthma and allergies, or at least they aren’t as severe as they used to be but the younger one still requires daily medication for his allergies to prevent his asthma from flaring.
*shrugs*
As I’ve said, I’m just one person and these are just my experiences with my family, I cannot say the same for others, though I do know my cousin who was also an IVF baby was born healthy and has remained so since, unlike his naturally conceived sister who ended up having an incompatible blood type with my aunt and so they had to undergo a bunch of treatments to deal with that and she was sickly when she was born, however she’s healthy (and insanely adorable) now.
Hey Rae, thanks. I was interested in your experience when I read that article.