Recent IVF technique, in vitro maturation, linked to larger babies, difficult births and caesareans
A review of studies into the latest fertility treatment, in vitro maturation (IVM), has suggested that the method could lead to oversized babies. This can cause problems at birth making medical interventions such as caesareans more likely.
IVM has been developed in the last few years. It takes immature eggs from a woman’s ovaries and matures them outside her body. This makes it a useful treatment for sufferers of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and those who’ve had no success with regular IVF.
The review found that of the 165 babies involved, birth weights were between 0.3% and 6% higher than the average and between 6% to 9% higher compared with IVF babies.
“For the sake of the health and safety of the babies and their mothers, we need to be following IVM babies from the moment the eggs are matured in the laboratory through to their birth and into adulthood,” said Dr Peter Sjöblom, manager of Nurture, an IVF clinic in Nottingham.
“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,” Dr Peter reassured.
