Study Finds Higher Risk of Heart Defects in Babies Conceived via Assisted Reproduction

Research shows a 36% increased risk of major heart defects in babies born through fertility treatments compared to natural conception.

The study included over 7.7 million live births from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden between 1984 and 2015.
Babies conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) face a 1.84% risk of major heart defects, compared to 1.15% for naturally conceived babies.
The increased risk is consistent across different types of ART, including IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Multiple births resulting from ART, such as twins or triplets, have an even higher risk of congenital heart defects.
Early diagnosis and specialized care are crucial for managing heart defects, which can be life-threatening and may require surgery.