Couples who are considering medically assisted reproduction (MAR) because they have difficulties conceiving naturally, have always feared that this decision could harm their baby.
A new study published in The Lancet shows that couples can opt for this intervention without worrying about increasing their baby's health risks.
Researchers Alice Goisis, Hanna Remes, Pekka Martikainen, Reija Klemetti and Mikko Myrskylä used data from Finnish administrative registers and analysed birthweight, gestational age, risk of low birth weight and risk of preterm birth among children conceived both by medically assisted reproduction and naturally.
The results show that children born with medically assisted reproduction indeen had an increased risk of unwanted birth results. However, this increased risk is largely due to factors other than the medically assisted reproduction treatment.
More about this study can be read here.