The one question that deters most couples from undergoing IVF is, “Are IVF babies healthy?” It has been a common belief among several couples and families that IVF babies won’t be as healthy as naturally born babies.
This is one of the main reasons why several people are skeptical about undergoing the procedure. So, what is the truth? Are IVF babies healthy or not?
Let’s find the answer to this long-asked question in this article.
Are IVF Babies Healthy?
To answer your question, yes, IVF babies are healthy. They are as healthy as natural-born babies and won’t have any side effects as long as the quality of the parent’s egg & sperm are good.
To understand this point better, you must first understand what happens during an IVF procedure.
In an IVF, the sperm and eggs will be collected from the male and female partners, respectively. The sperm and egg will be fertilized and cultured in a laboratory. The developed embryo will then be transferred into the female uterus for implantation and pregnancy.
After implantation, pregnancy occurs just like how it would in a natural pregnancy. So, aside from the method of conception, the rest of the pregnancy is the same as natural pregnancy, and the babies will also be healthy in the IVF Treatment.
What Do The Past Results Say?
IVF babies are as healthy as natural babies. The only downside is that IVF babies are at a higher risk of getting certain genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.
Below are some factors that past results and studies have proved regarding the health of IVF babies.
- IVF babies have about one-third more risk of getting congenital birth defects than natural-born babies.
- IVF babies have a higher risk of having low birth weight or premature delivery.
This mainly happens if the egg or sperm has any abnormalities and the embryo is low-quality. And the studies only show that IVF babies have a higher chance of getting these defects. They do not say that IVF babies will definitely have those defects.
So, as long as you and your partner have no genetic or health conditions, and the quality of your egg & sperm is good, you can have a healthy IVF baby.
What Are The Risks Associated With IVF Babies?
Below are some of the possible risks associated with IVF babies.
Birth Defect Risk
As discussed earlier, IVF babies have a higher risk of having birth defects. The chances of these defects mostly depend on the biological parent’s age and the quality of their eggs and sperm.
Some birth defects associated with IVF babies are listed below.
- IVF babies are more prone to chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome.
- IVF babies have higher chances of having genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia.
- IVF babies can also have certain birth defects in the heart or other internal organs.
Physical And Mental Health
IVF can also increase the chances of physical and mental health defects in babies. However, remember that no studies have proven that IVF babies definitely have any defects.
They only say that the chances are higher than that of naturally born babies. On average, most IVF babies are as physically and mentally able as normal babies.
Conclusion
You don’t need to worry whether your IVF babies will be as healthy as normal babies. As long as your egg and sperm quality is good and the procedure is done right, you can give birth to a healthy and cute baby.
Remember that the hospital and doctor you choose also play a part in IVF success. So, ensure you do your research and choose the best fertility hospital for your IVF treatment.
After fertilization, the eggs will be cultured and monitored for development. During this time, your fertility doctor will conduct screening tests like PGS (Preimplantation Genetic Screening) and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) to analyze the quality of the embryo.
IVF babies have been shown to have higher chances of contracting certain physical and mental health conditions. They might also have low birth weight, premature delivery, and other complications.
The risk of birth defects is about 3–5% in IVF babies. However, if all the necessary tests are done and pregnancy happens without any issues, we can eliminate the possibility of birth defects in babies.
