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Nov 17, 2008 6:57 pm US/Eastern
Health Alert: Risk Of Birth Defects
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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A new warning about fertility treatments increasing the risk of birth defects. This is part of a large scale government study on all causes of birth defects
KYW
A new warning about fertility treatments increasing the
risk of birth defects. This is part of a large scale government study on all
causes of birth defects. It covered about 15-thousand births and found some
infertility treatments increase the risk of defects like a cleft palate and
heart abnormalities.
Technology makes dreams
of having a family a reality for couples
struggling with infertility. Interventions like invitro fertilization
have produced tens of thousands of healthy babies.
It finally worked for
Raiza Tepedino, who's due in December.
"I think that's the most wonderful thing that a woman can do, so I
wanted to a part of that club," said Raiza.
A new study from the
Centers for Disease Control says babies conceived with assisted reproductive
technology are two to four times more likely to have birth defects like a cleft
palate or heart abnormalities, compared to children conceived naturally.
Doctor Kurt Barnhart
with Penn Fertility Care says risks are still relatively low.
"Thank goodness the
overall risk of this happening is still, we're talking about 1 or 2 or 3
percent," said Dr. Barnhart.
He says the new
research underscores what doctors have already known and prospective parents
are warning about the risks of birth defects and other potential complications.
At this point it's not
clear exactly how or why fertility treatments can cause birth defects.
"It may be it's
associated with he trouble getting pregnant in itself. that women that have
trouble getting pregnant -when they do conceive successfully may be carrying on
that risk to their children," said Dr. Barnhart.
A little over one
percent of babies are conceived with fertility treatments. As women age, and
delay starting a family, it becomes more difficult to get pregnant.
Doctors say it's
unknown what causes most birth defects, but smoking, alcohol and obesity
increase the risk, probability more than fertility treatments.
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