Does Fertility Treatment Increase Risk of Cerebral Palsy?
According to a new study found in the journal Human Reproduction, children conceived with assisted reproduction techniques have a higher-than-average risk of developing cerebral palsy. The study, which involved 590,000 children born between 1995 and 2003 in Demark, found that babies made with the help of fertility treatments were two times more likely to be diagnosed as suffering from cerebral palsy than those who were conceived naturally. These findings confirm results determined by a number of other studies. That said, it is also important to note that this risk is still considered low considering that only 2 or 3 out of every 1000 babies in the US and Europe have cerebral palsy.
According to the study’s findings, the increased odds of twin and multiple births and preterm deliveries that come with assisted reproduction may contribute to the increased risk that a baby will be born with the cerebral palsy. Researchers say that if this is so then implanting women with just one embryo at a time may help lower the odds. They actually found no increased risk of cerebral palsy among singleton births conceived through in-vitro fertilization.
Other findings from the study:
• 55% of babies conceived using fertility drugs had a 55% higher risk of developing cerebral palsy than children who were conceived naturally
• 63% of infants conceived through assisted reproduction were born prematurely
• 54% of assisted-reproduction births were twins or triplets
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is any one of a number of neurological disorders that can permanently impair muscle coordination and body movement. It can lead to permanent disabilities. A person with severe cerebral palsy may require specialized care for life. While cerebral palsy can develop naturally in some children, there are cerebral palsy cases that occur because of Illinois medical negligence. When medical mistakes contributed to causing your child’s cerebral palsy, you may have reason to sue the medical professionals involved for Chicago, Illinois medical malpractice. This is where an experienced Chicago birthing injury law firm can step in.
Fertility treatment tied to risk of cerebral palsy, Reuters, July 2, 2010
Cerebral Palsy Information Page, NINDS.NIH.Gov
Related Web Resources:
CerebralPalsy.org
Contact our Chicago, Illinois cerebral palsy attorneys today.
