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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that some birth injuries may be significantly more common among babies conceived with fertility techniques (assisted reproductive technology, or ART) compared to babies conceived without such assistance.

IVF and ICSI

CDC Epidemiologist Jennita Reefhuis, PhD, and her colleagues reviewed the medical data of approximately 13,500 babies who were born with birth defects and about 5,000 babies without birth defects. The babies were born in 10 states across the country between October 1977 and December 2003. The researchers focused on two types of ART: in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and they looked at only single births (singletons), not multiple births. They found that:

• In the group of babies with birth defects, about 2.4 percent were conceived with ART, whereas
• Among the babies without birth defects, about 1 percent were conceived with ART

Four Categories of Birth Defects Significantly More Common

The CDC researchers also found that among the babies conceived with ART, the following types of birth defects were more common compared to the no-defects babies:

• Cleft lip and/or cleft palate: 2.4 times more common among babies conceived with ART
• Septal heart defects: 2 times more common
• Anorectal atresia (birth defect in the anal/rectal area): 3.7 times more common
• Esophageal atresia (birth defect of the esophagus): 4.5 times more common

Does Not Prove that ART Is the Cause

However, the study's authors acknowledge that these findings do not prove that ART is responsible for the birth defects. As Dr. Reefhuis explained, "Subfertile women might have a higher risk of having a child with a birth defect regardless of whether infertility treatments are used." In addition, ARTs are known to increase the incidence of multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.), and multiple birth is a strong risk factor for several types of birth defects.

(Source: Web MD)

If you feel that you were not adequately warned of the risks of ART and your baby suffered injuries, contact us to speak with a medical malpractice attorney in your area to discuss your concerns.