Risk is Higher for In Vitro Fertilization Babies to Develop Cancer

In the year 1977, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) was introduced as a way to conceive babies. Louise Brown was born on July 25th 1978, making her the first test tube baby born as the result of this technique. Over 3 million babies have been born using this method over the last 3 decades. Some of these babies are now adults.

The July issue of the Medical Journal Pediatrics reported that the results of evaluating the risk of cancer in early childhood, and adulthood, resulted in an increase of cancer risk in those babies conceived by in vitro fertilization. These babies were in comparison to those who were conceived the traditional way. However, the report goes on to state, that the risk is still very low.

Did the underlining condition that caused the mother to receive the In Vitro Fertilizing in the first place contributed to these findings? The answer is unknown at this time, because the study only evaluated the difference of the babies conceived through the In Vitro Fertilization process, in comparison to the babies conceived naturally.

Experts say that just because these test results have been confirmed, the increased risk of cancer should not deter parents from using this method of conception. Without this method of conception, many couples would not be able to conceive at all.

Researchers have now started to research risk and conditions like diabetes, autism and other long-term problems. They are using the same method that was used to evaluate the difference, between In Virtro Fertilization babies, and the babies that were conceived using the tradition method. It will be interesting to see what the results will be.