Are babies conceived in test tubes as healthy as those conceived the old fashioned way?
Two Dutch studies say they are.
At a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, researchers presented evidence from the studies.  They show that in-vitro fertilization and the freezing of embryos did not significantly increase the babies' chances of medical problems.
 
Previous studies have shown babies produced from artificial reproduction techniques are more likely to have major birth defects and to be underweight at birth. Doctors have worried that the baby's birth weight could lead to diagnosis like Cerebral Palsy.
 That risk is now thought to be linked to factors in the parents.
An 'older' age of mothers, lifestyle or genetic factors may all contribute.
 
According to a report on FOXNews.com:

"Dr. Karin Middelburg, of the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands and colleagues examined more than 120 babies born after in-vitro fertilization. Those children were compared to 90 babies born to parents with fertility problems who spontaneously conceived while waiting for fertility treatment and to 450 babies conceived naturally."
 
When the babies were several months old, their brain development was observed.
Reseachers looked at how they waved their hands, made a fist, or kicked their feet.

"They found that the test-tube babies moved as well as babies spontaneously born to parents waiting for infertility treatment. That showed that artificial reproduction techniques are not to blame for any early developmental problems", Middelburg said.

 
 
 

 
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