Study: IVF Does Not Increase Risk Of Mental Disorder In Adults

Researchers have discovered that adolescents who conceived through IVF (in vitro fertilization) or other Artificial Reproductive Technologies (ART) do not face an increased risk of mental health or neurodevelopmental issues compared to those conceived naturally, according to a new study released today.

Alexandra Martiniuk, a Professor of Epidemiology at The University of Sydney who led the study, and reported IANS that the longitudinal research tracked children from birth to adolescence and “found they did not have a greater chance of having a mental disorder compared to children conceived naturally.”

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In the recent study, mental disorders were define as autism, ADHD, anxiety, and/or depression.

Among the adolescents who conceived through IVF, 22 percent had a mental disorder, but the study concluded that this was a small proportion and there was no significant link between ART and the development of mental disorders.

The research used data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, which has been monitoring 10,000 children since 2004, gathering information on various aspects of life, including health, relationships, work, education, and lifestyle.

Additionally, the study highlighted that for families using ART, these research provide important reassurance about the long-term mental health of their children, debunking misconceptions about increased risks of psychological and neurodevelopmental issues in adolescents conceived through ART.

“This study is an important addition to existing knowledge because we were able to control known confounders such as birth weight of the baby and maternal mental health, where some previous studies have not been able to,” Martiniuk said.

“As well, this study was a prospective cohort and followed children into adolescence, further strengthening confidence in the findings,” she added.