Fertility Procedures Linked to Pregnancy Complications
February 12, 2002
According to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an increasing number of couples are hoping fertility procedures will aide in their quest to have children. Assisted reproductive treatments (ART) rose nearly thirty percent from 1996 to 1998. Health officials, however, warn that procedures such as in-vitro fertilization are not risk free.
Out of the 82,000 assisted procedures performed in 1998, only 20,000 resulted in successful births. Mothers bore multiple babies over half of the time. According to the report, the risk of pregnancy complications rises among women who bear twins and triplets. Babies may be born underweight or suffer long-term disabilities. The CDC, though, says couples are placing more trust in ART. The number of clinics nationwide has also increased in recent years.
A new report published today in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed similar results. Australian researchers confirmed that babies born through ART face two times the risk of suffering a birth defect.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
More ...
.