Art Caplan reflects on study published in Fertility and Sterility which indicated that IVF babies have a 37% higher risk of being born with a birth defect compared to naturally conceived children. Caplan concludes in his MSNBC column: “Infertility treatments have brought a great deal of joy to many. But, the price is high — so high that we need to be sure it is a key element in thinking about using these treatments.” This this level of risk worth it? I think most parents who have conceived or want to conceive through IVF would say yes, but it still an important fact that those using or thinking of using IVF should consider.
Summer Johnson McGee, phD