Hey friends! Today, let’s chat about some exciting news in the world of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Recent findings from Scandinavian researchers published in Human Reproduction show that babies conceived through these innovative methods are healthier than ever before.
The research examined data from about 92,000 children born via ART in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden between 1988 and 2007. They compared the health outcomes of these babies to around 362,000 infants who were conceived naturally during the same timeframe. Here are a few highlights from the study:
- Over the years, the incidence of preterm births among single babies conceived through ART has significantly decreased. In the early years of the study, 13% of these singletons were born prematurely, but by 2007, that number dropped to just 8%.
- The rate of low or very low birth weights for single ART babies also saw a decline.
So, what’s behind this positive trend? The researchers suggest that advancements in the techniques used for culturing fertilized eggs, along with milder medications for ovarian stimulation, play a crucial role. However, the most impactful change seems to be the growing preference for elective single embryo transfer (eSET), which has led to a one-third reduction in twin births, thus lowering various health risks associated with multiple embryos.
If you’re interested in learning more about the IVF process and egg retrieval, you can check out our other blog post here. Plus, for anyone considering home insemination, CryoBaby offers a great selection of kits that can help you on your journey. For comprehensive information on pregnancy, Healthline is an excellent resource as well.
To sum it up, the advancements in IVF techniques are leading to healthier babies, thanks to improved methods and a focus on single embryo transfers. It’s an encouraging time for those exploring their fertility options!