30th June 2003
IVM PRODUCES HEALTHY CHILDREN
Babies born as the result of one of the newer forms of fertility treatment grow into healthy children, researchers claim.
In vitro maturation (IVM) is a relatively new form of fertility treatment and concerns about its safety are still rife, including suggestions that it could damage the eggs and lead to babies being born with abnormalities. However, findings from a small study in Denmark appear to show that it's safe and that children grow up without any negative effects. The centre in Denmark has so far used IVM to produce 33 babies - 16 girls and 17 boys - who are now aged between two and four years old.
IVM is believed to be particularly useful for women who aren't able to cope with the high drug doses required in IVF to produce large numbers of mature eggs. Instead immature eggs are harvested from the ovaries and then matured in test tubes before being fertilised in the usual way.
Dr. Anne Lis Mikkelson, who led the study, said, "The children are aged between two and four years now, and are achieving higher than average scores in their developmental tests - this is probably the result of the exceptional motivation of their parents."
She added that, "More children have to be born by this method before we can reach any definitive conclusion, however, these results indicate that the IVM method seems to be safe."
Details of the study and method are being presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology annual meeting in Madrid.
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- Take a look at our guide to trying for a baby
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- Chat to others about infertility and trying for a baby