Effects of IVF on health
IVF is the embryo that is fertilized and pregnant in the laboratory through artificial assisted reproduction technology and implanted into the mother, so it is slightly different from natural pregnancy to some extent. The development of IVF technology has brought hope to many couples who cannot conceive naturally. However, whether this process has an impact on infant health has always been a concern. This article will elaborate on the health impact of IVF from four aspects.
1. Risk of birth defects
Many studies have shown that there is a small difference in the risk of birth defects between IVF and naturally conceived infants. According to the data of the National Institutes of Health, the probability of birth defects of test tube babies is about 3-5%, while the probability of naturally conceived babies is about 2-3%. This means that the risk of birth defects of IVF is slightly higher than that of naturally conceived infants.
There are many factors that may lead to this difference, including the age of the mother, technical factors at the time of embryo transfer, and patients' genetic diseases. However, in general, this difference is very small and will not have a significant impact on the health of most IVF infants.
In addition, with the development of technology and the accumulation of experience of the medical team, the risk of birth defects of IVF is also gradually reducing. Hospitals such as Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States are constantly improving technology and research to improve the success rate and health of IVF.
2. Long term follow-up of infant health
Due to the relatively new technology of IVF, the long-term health status of infants needs further research and tracking. Some studies have shown that there is no significant difference between IVF and naturally conceived infants in terms of development and health.
However, a study published in 2019 showed that IVF may have higher risk factors in early childhood, such as premature delivery, low weight and growth retardation. This is mainly because the mother of IVF may be older or have health problems before pregnancy. However, the study also points out that these risks gradually decrease during the growth of infants, and tend to be similar to those of naturally pregnant infants.
Therefore, in order to better understand the long-term health status of IVF, more follow-up studies are needed, and better infant monitoring and intervention measures should be provided in combination with current medical technologies and methods.
3. Mental health problems
IVF babies may experience different experiences during their growth, which may have a certain impact on their mental health. Some studies have shown that IVF may have a higher risk of mental health, such as anxiety and depression.
However, this impact is not conclusive, because mental health problems are not only related to IVF technology, but also affected by family environment, parental education methods, social support and other factors. It is important to provide good family environment and psychological support to help IVF establish positive mental health.
4. Postnatal syndrome
IVF technology is not always successful, and some couples may need to experience multiple attempts and failures. This has given them great psychological pressure and emotional blow, also known as "post fertility syndrome".
Postnatal syndrome may lead to anxiety, depression, impaired self-esteem and tension between husband and wife. However, with the improvement of medical technology and psychological support, the incidence of this syndrome has decreased. Many hospitals provide psychological counseling and support groups to help couples face and overcome these challenges.
summary
The development of IVF technology has brought new hope to couples who cannot conceive naturally. Although IVF may have a slight impact on health in some aspects, such as birth defects and mental health problems, these risks are gradually reducing with the development of technology and the accumulation of experience of the medical team. At the same time, long-term follow-up research and psychological support are also key to further improve the health level of IVF. In any case, IVF technology is an important choice for many couples, bringing happiness and a complete family.
