IVM fertility treatment linked to oversized babies

Washington, July 1 (ANI): Babies born after in vitro maturation (IVM) fertility treatment are more likely to be born larger than normal and have more difficult births requiring more obstetric interventions such as caesareans, according to a new study.

In IVM, immature eggs are retrieved from a woman's ovaries and matured in the lab before being fertilised and any resulting embryos transferred to the woman's uterus.

Dr Peter Sjoblom, unit manager of Nurture, the Nottingham University IVF clinic at Queen's Medical Centre (Nottingham, UK), and his colleagues found that IVM and OVF births were associated with higher than normal birth weight, increased caesareans as well as high miscarriage rates.

"The pattern of increased birth weight, more obstetric interventions and possibly a longer gestation period are consistent with Large Offspring Syndrome," said Sjoblom.

The team believes that either the final stages of egg development are being curbed in IVM, or the development may be affected by the different preparation of the lining of the womb.

"However, we must make it clear to the public that, at the moment, no major health problems have been observed in children born after IVM. Nevertheless, all fertility clinics should share their detailed data, so that we can, hopefully, conclude that there is no reason for concern," concluded Dr Sjoblom. (ANI)