A study has found out that babies born out of frozen embryos transfer are prone to develop childhood cancer. The technique of freezing the embryos after fertilization doubles the risk of certain cancer in IVF tots. The researchers have observed around 1085172 kids in Denmark over a period of 11 years. They have found out that babies who have been born from a frozen embryo are 2.43 times higher risk of developing cancer than those who are born naturally. As per the findings of the research, nearly 2217 IVF children have been diagnosed with cancer. These children have been 2.87 times higher risk of developing leukemia. They have also shown 7.82 times greater risk of nervous system tumors as well.
As per the reports, around 31 percent of the treatment cycle followed the freezing technique in 2016 in the UK. It had almost 22 percent of the birth rate. Around 69 percent of assisted reproduction was with fresh embryos with 21 percent of birth rate. The new study has been published in Jama medical journal. It has been put together by Dr. Marie Hargreave from the Danish Cancer Society Research Center. Denmark is the nation with the highest rate of assisted reproductive technology. As per the statistics, almost 10 percent of children born in 2018 were through some or the other fertility treatment. Dr. Jeffery Goldberg, a reproductive endocrinologist has said that the study needs to collect more recent data to substantiate the findings. He has also said that women who are old with older partners go for the procedure with frozen embryos are also at higher risk of cancer.
Scientists have claimed that babies born through fertility treatments are prone to many health risks. These babies are likely to be underweight at the time of birth. They face premature birth. They are born with some birth defects as well. However, the higher risk of cancer is only linked to those IVF babies who are born out of frozen embryos. The author of the study said that the rate of developing childhood cancer has 17.5 per 100000 in the kids who are born naturally. At the same time, this figure goes up to 44.4 per 100000 for children born from frozen embryos. There was no crucial cancer strain associated with other types of fertility treatments. Scientists have asserted that no other fertility treatments are linked to the risk of cancer such as IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm insertion.
