In vitro fertilization (IVF) is considered the most effective form of assisted reproductive technology, according to Mayo Clinic. It is a complex procedure that uses a couple's own egg and sperm cells or embryos from known or anonymous donors. However, studies revealed some potential complications that should be discussed between the doctor and patient before undergoing the procedure.
A more recently published study showed that women who conceived through IVF are more likely to experience pregnancy complications that may result in premature birth. Some of the factors linked to this are older age and women's general health needing this fertility treatment.
IVF Babies 26% More Likely to be Born Prematurely as Mothers Have Increased Risk of Pregnancy Complications
Women Who Conceived Via IVF Have Increased Risk of Pregnancy Complications
In the study, titled "In‐Hospital Complications in Pregnancies Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technology" published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers compared more than 160,000 births after a fertility treatment to 34.1 million births conceived naturally and found a greater risk to women's health in the former.
The births happened between 2008 and 2016, which showed that those women who had medical help to conceive have a 65% greater likelihood to have an irregular heartbeat and are two and a half times more likely to suffer acute kidney injury.
More so, MailOnline reported that they are 57% more likely to have a serious complication wherein the placenta separates from the lining of the womb called placental abruption. Meanwhile, there is 26% that they will give birth prematurely.
Researchers said these pregnancy complications are associated with old age, which poses a higher risk of complications. They added that higher premature births and placental abruptions still happen even when age and general health, such as obesity and hypertension, were considered.
Researchers warned that these complications should be discussed with women by their doctors at IVF clinics, despite being extremely rare. Lead author Dr. Pensee Wu said that it is important to give women all the treatment information, which requires close monitoring, especially during delivery.
The Link Between IVF and Premature Births
There are many factors that could cause premature births on babies conceived via IVF and doctors do not exactly know why these infants are born earlier than others. More research is being conducted to understand it and so far the combination of IVF and some factors in the mother points to a higher risk. According to Very Well Family, these factors could include the following:
- Hormonal Problems- Women are given a super-dose of hormones to increase the number of eggs released Scientists believe that the hormones may have affected how the embryo implants itself in the uterus.
- Multiple embryos- Since the hormones increase the number of embryos released, there is a higher chance of conceiving twins or multiples. But the way these embryos implant themselves in the uterus might also be a problem that causes premature birth.
- Too much monitoring- IVF pregnancies require careful monitoring compared to natural conceptions because of a number of possible complications. But scientists also believe this might cause an earlier birth as well.
- Mother's health- Women who need assisted reproductive technology to conceive tend to be older and heavier than those who conceive naturally. Factors that affect their health are believed to be a major factor that increases the risk of premature births.
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