The advancement of IVF or In Vitro Fertilization has been a blessing in disguise for millions of childless parents.
Even though assisted reproductive technology has enabled a lot of parents to fulfill their dreams of achieving parenthood, still there are questions in the minds of aspiring parents regarding its credibility. Many people have this strong belief that babies that are born under assisted reproductive techniques are not as healthy as those conceived naturally. You too could be having that question in your mind.
However, these beliefs are false and researchers and medical experts all around the world are continually trying their best to put an end to such beliefs and dispel the myth once and for all. Many research-backed materials have been presented by them that go against the claim that IVF babies are not as healthy as the naturally born.
Important benefits of IVF treatment
- IVF works best where other infertility treatments fail
- Increases your chances of conception, regardless of age
- Decreases your chances of miscarriage
- You have control over the timing
- You can use donated eggs and/or sperm
Let us first understand the difference between a natural conception and the conception through In Vitro Fertilization, before emphasizing whether IVF babies are healthy or not.
Are IVF babies born naturally
To conclude, it is important to compare the process of IVF and natural conception. When you compare both, what you find is that there is not much difference between them.
The most crucial process in a conception is the fertilization of the egg by the sperm. This step is an essential part of IVF too.
The difference is that In the natural process, fertilization takes place in the fallopian tube, inside the body, after sexual intercourse, while in IVF, the fertilization is carried out in a dish, outside the body, in a special laboratory designed for the process.
In natural conception, the embryo that is formed travels to the uterus and there it is naturally implanted by pregnancy whereas, in IVF, the embryo or embryos created in the lab are implanted in the uterus artificially, using a device.
The important point to note is that after the embryo or embryos are implanted in the uterus, the phases that follow are identical to that in natural conception. So, it is quite understandable that the health of a baby born by IVF is not at all at risk. They are born as healthy and disease-free as babies conceived naturally. The physical characteristics and mental aptitude of IVF offspring are comparable to other youngsters.
Do IVF babies suffer higher health risks?
Since IVF babies are conceived artificially, it is a preconceived notion to place them under the high-risk categories.
Indeed, IVF babies are not born risk-free. There may be some shortfalls associated with them.
Studies all over the world has shown IVF babies are at about one-third greater risk of congenital birth defects compared to their naturally-conceived counterparts. According to years of research, IVF slightly increases the risk that the baby will be born early or with low birth weight.
Neurological disorders are found to be higher than in naturally conceived children. Babies conceived through IVF or any other Assisted Reproductive Techniques are likely to develop autism or any other learning disability.
The research studies have shown that the process of IVF itself is not responsible for these abnormalities. They could be caused by male or female fertility and the ages of the parents. Another finding is that there is always a higher amount of risk involved with multiple births, in which more than one embryo is transferred to maximize the chances of pregnancy, in comparison to single births.
So, you should talk about the risks, with your IVF specialist, if you are looking forward to having twins, or if multiple embryos are being transferred to your uterus during the IVF treatment.
Should you go for an IVF?
Considering all the facts, IVF might seem risky, but it is worth it, as it has proved to be a boon to those who have not been able to conceive naturally.
It is important to note that the majority of the babies born through the IVF process are healthy, both physically and mentally, which assures that the process is a success. You just have to follow all the precautions mentioned by your IVF specialist and you would be giving yourself a bundle of joy and happiness, something you had always dreamt of.
Goodwill IVF Treatment Center, with a dedicated team of experienced experts and trained staff, is assisting numerous couples who are battling infertility problems. At the IVF Treatment Center, with the combination of state-of-the-art technology and ultimate care and comfort, dreams of parenthood come true. IVF treatment is carried out at Goodwill with great expertise and a high success rate.
