Infertility issues are already emotionally and physically straining on parents. Although treatments like IVF can be pursued to alleviate the stress, the rumors surrounding such treatments negatively impacting a child’s mental development have naturally made many parents apprehensive about resorting to such treatments ever since their inception decades ago.
For far too long, knowledge about the long-term health impact on children conceived through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has been insufficient to make any conclusive statements. Previous studies have associated conditions like low birth weight, birth defects, and pre-term births with such treatments.
Fortunately, a recent study may prove fruitful in squashing these lingering concerns once and for all, thus restoring the faith of several parents in assisted reproductive technology.
The Study
Spearheaded by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, the study focuses on the mental health of young adults and teens conceived with ART’s help.
Researchers gathered data from more than 1.2 million people born in Sweden between the years 1994 and 2006. The study also included over 31500 people that were originally conceived with ART. The subject’s age group ranged from 12 to 25 years of age when the study ultimately concluded.
The Result
In favor of ART, the result was overwhelmingly positive. In addition, no substantial evidence was explicitly found stating or hinting at adverse mental health issues arising in young adults due to them being conceived using IVF as they go through their adolescence.
The results showed a slightly heightened risk of OCD compared with the general populace. However, the risk was eliminated entirely when adjustments to certain parental characteristics were made. So ultimately, the reason for high OCD mainly was attributed to the parent’s background and not the IVF treatment itself.
The Bottom Line
Since the inception of ART, over 9 million children have been born using such methods. However, with several studies yielding polar-opposite results, parents never really had definitive evidence not to feel concerned about procedures like IVF. Fortunately, if studies like the one mentioned above are anything to go by, then parents with infertility challenges can finally take a sigh of relief.
With a sizeable subject of people being studied as they go through adolescence for the first time, there is finally reassuring evidence suggesting IVF babies turn into mentally healthy adults.
If you wish to undergo infertility treatment like IVF at affordable costs in Florida, we suggest giving us a call at Assisted Fertility Program. Widely lauded as one of Florida’s best in-vitro fertilization practices, we’ve helped thousands of parents with personalized, quality IVF procedures.
The program is spearheaded by Dr. Marwan Shaykh, a board-certified gynecologist, and obstetrician with certification in infertility and reproductive endocrinology. A recognized name in the field of reproductive medicine, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands.
You can get in touch with us to learn more about the procedure and how the Assisted Fertility Program can serve you.