Babies conceived via IVF are not at a higher risk for cancer, according to a new study. As such, barring any family history of cancer, babies conceived naturally and those conceived via IVF are on a level playing field as far as contracting malignant cancer as children or adolescents.
Researchers from Amsterdam University Medical Center and Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam wanted to determine if cancer was more prevalent in those who were born via assisted reproductive technologies (ART) than those who were not. This was because of "growing evidence" that shows as a result of the methods used to prepare an embryo that "genetic modifications" are made to the embryo, according to Medical Xpress. And because of these modifications, there was the very real possibility that ART babies could be more prone to being diagnosed with malignant cancer.
The study, which was presented at the virtual Annual Meeting of ESHRE on June 28, stated that all of the factors that go into making for successful embryo implantation, such as taking fertility medications, harvesting eggs, the process of freezing and unfreezing eggs, and more could very easily lead to an embryo becoming damaged in some manner. And it is the damage that could change the structure of the embryo, thus causing a genetic modification, according to EurekAlert!
Babies who are born through assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF, are genetically different than those who are conceived naturally. According to WebMD, this is because those who are born via IVF have genes that put them at a higher risk for developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes and the development of fat tissue, putting those born with assistance at higher risk for obesity.
Researchers reviewed data through OMEGA, a cohort study that was conducted between 1980 and 2012. From the study, there were over 89,000 children included who were conceived naturally and via ART.
There were nearly 51,500 babies who were born with assistance in the cohort study and almost 38,000 babies who were conceived naturally, according to Medical Xpress.
Of these babies, as they aged, 358 cancers were noted. 157 were from the ART group and 201 were from the group that was conceived naturally.
As a result of these findings, researchers were able to determine that there was no increased risk of contracting a form of malignant cancer as a result of being born with assistance versus not.
What was noted, however, according to EurekAlert!, is that when a sperm cell is introduced into an egg through a process known as ICSI, those children faced a higher risk of developing melanoma than those conceived naturally.
The bottom line is that there is not a higher risk of babies being born via ART facing the struggles of malignant cancer. As such, parents can feel confident in their choice to start a family knowing that they are not placing their babies in harm's way from conceiving through the use of IVF.
Source: Medical Xpress, EurekAlert!, WebMD