Some Forms Of IVF Linked To Risk Of Autism, Mental Disability - Kate Kelland
Couples who have certain types of fertility treatment have a higher chance of having a child with autism or learning difficulties - although the overall risk is still extremely small, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The experts said couples should not consider abandoning or avoiding in-vitro-fertilization (IVF) on the basis of their research findings. Avi Reichenberg, MD, who led the study at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said the results showed a link between some IVF treatments a higher risk of developmental disorders in children, but stressed the study did not identify a cause. "The exact mechanism is unclear, but there are a number of risk factors, from selection of IVF procedures, to multiple embryos, and to preterm birth," said Dr. Reichenberg.
- Dr. Avi Reichenberg, Professor, Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
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