More birth defects seen with fertility treatment

Elizabeth Fernandez, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 18, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO -- Infants conceived as a result of infertility treatments are two to four times more likely to have certain types of birth defects than children conceived naturally, according to one of the nation's largest studies on the issue.

The defects, which frequently can be surgically treated, range from heart anomalies to cleft lips to gastrointestinal disorders.

"None of these are lethal," said Dr. Jennita Reefhuis, an epidemiologist with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and one of the study's authors. "The individual risk of birth defects is still very small. But it is very important for couples who are considering artificial reproductive technology to have full disclosure." the rest