IVF raises risk of Beckwith Wiedemann syndrome

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 14 Aug 2004 - 18:00 PDT

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Children conceived by IVF are nine times as likely to have the very rare disorder Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome as those conceived naturally, according to a study in Australia. It is the strongest evidence yet that IVF children have a higher risk of a specific disorder.

However, there is no need for couples considering IVF to be unduly concerned. According to the study, there is only a 1 in 4000 chance of an IVF child having Beckwith-Wiedemann (BWS). So the risk is tiny, given that any child, conceived naturally or not, has roughly a 1 in 30 chance of having a major birth defect.

MORE..........The New Scientist

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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