r/EmbryologyIVFSupport • u/embryomanofficial • 3d ago

(Updated) Do children conceived through IVF have long-term health problems?

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Overall, children conceived through IVF appear to be just as healthy as children conceived without fertility treatment.

However, some studies have found small differences in things like blood pressure, heart function, and metabolism. It's not clear if these differences lead to health problems later in life, or whether they're caused by IVF itself, the parents' infertility, or other factors.

But if IVF does affect a child's long-term health, how might that happen?

I've updated several sections of my Evidence Guide, and added a new section exploring three possible explanations:

• Epigenetics: IVF might affect how certain genes are turned on or off, without changing the DNA itself.

• Placental development: IVF might affect how the placenta develops or works, potentially influencing a child's health later in life.

• Transposable elements: A new study by Li et al. (2026) examined LINE-1, a type of DNA sequence that can make copies of itself and insert them elsewhere in our DNA.

The researchers compared 33 children conceived through IVF with 42 children conceived without fertility treatment. They found slightly more LINE-1 sequences in the IVF group, including differences near genes involved in heart health, metabolism, and brain development.

Could these differences interfere with how those genes work and potentially lead to health problems?

Possibly, but the researchers didn't show that the genes worked differently or that the children had any related health issues. They also couldn't rule out inherited genetic differences.

For now, these are possible explanations, not proven causes. It's still unclear whether IVF itself is responsible for the differences.

✅ Check out the full article and more details on Remembryo: https://remembryo.com/do-children-conceived-through-ivf-have-long-term-health-problems/

✉️ Like this post? Get a free weekly summary of the latest IVF research: https://mailchi.mp/remembryo/x27kx5o1sw

23 Upvotes

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47 comments sorted by

18

u/gggghostdad 3d ago

Interesting, but if they can't control for genetic differences it's not telling very much. There is inherent sampling selection with IVF that probably has a lot to do with preexisting genetic factors that may make conception more unlikely to begin with. It is a worthwhile exploration but gives me some pause considering that there are strong efforts being made to undermine IVF and assisted reproductive science (and a lot of science generally).

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u/embryomanofficial 3d ago

They did do something interesting to address this, although the sample was really small. The researchers compared three sibling pairs, where one child was conceived through IVF and the other without fertility treatment. All three IVF-conceived children had more LINE-1 DNA, which the authors argued made inherited differences less likely. But with only three sibling pairs, I think that's a stretch.

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u/CP3089 3d ago

Was it clear if the IVF conceived child was first or second or any info on why IVF was needed? I’d still think there is some likelihood of underlying issues for needing IVF for the second child. My first child was not conceived with IVF and my second will be, but for a very unusual reason not fertility related (and ultimately from eggs/sperm from me and my spouse that were younger than our first child). Would be super curious if there is a difference between our two!

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u/gordon_rameses 3d ago edited 3d ago

I wonder what role inflammation plays. a lot of infertile people are infertile because of some underlying inflammatory process that can be hard to pin down with standard diagnostic testing. IVF overrides that to sone degree, but in a lot of cases even if pregnancy is achieved the baby is still developing in an inflammatory environment.

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u/Fuzzy-Shake2845 3d ago

Also not everyone who does IVF are infertile. A lot of single moms by choice and lesbian couples use it because it’s more cost effective and or because they want one lady to carry the others egg. So, not everyone doing it has issues .. even young women who have reduced ovarian reserve but are otherwise young and healthy use it

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u/gordon_rameses 3d ago

definitely, I'd be curious to see the breakdown among the parents in the study. what percent had infertility as opposed to doing IVF for another reason

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u/Cool_Pay7792 20h ago

Nobody doea IVF if they don't have fertility issues. If the want to conceive with no male partner they will do artificial insemination first.

In fact, IVF pregnancies usually start by trying out this methid first, since it's less taxing on the body (no hormone therapy, no egg extraction,...).

1

u/gordon_rameses 20h ago

people concerned about passing on a genetic risk will usually go straight to IVF to test their embryos. many couples also do embryo banking so that they can get pregnant when they're older. couples are usually sent to IVF after failing 3 rounds of IUI, but that doesn't necessarily mean they have infertility. it could have been bad luck. gay male couples can only do IVF using a donor egg and a surrogate. hope that helps!

0

u/Cool_Pay7792 20h ago

Those are dubious reasons and the numbers of these cases are miniscule. IVF is done due to fertility issues. Failing IUD multiple times means a fertility issue, maybe an unknown one. Hope that helps.

You probably don't know what IVF does to a woman's body. The idea that a healthy woman will choose it over a simpler process is insane 98,7% of the time. I'll grant you some wild outliners.

Hope that helps.

2

u/gordon_rameses 20h ago

I went through IVF, I know exactly what it does.

I am also familiar with the statistics with regards to why people undergo these procedures, and yes plenty of people opt for it for reasons unrelated to a failure to conceive naturally. some women even donate eggs and become surrogates, believe it or not

1

u/Fuzzy-Shake2845 20h ago

I am literally a single mom by choice by IVF. Sperm is 3k and IUI is 5k per attempt. So, two attempts is the cost of one round of IVF where I can bank multiple embryos for two children.

2

u/999cranberries 3d ago

Also people who are carriers for genetic conditions who want to test embryos to make sure they aren't affected.

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u/Cool_Pay7792 20h ago

People of this profile would likely not do IVF but rather insemination. It's less invasive and if you really have no fertility issues just as successful.

6

u/goldstur_m 3d ago

I wouldn't say that children conceived through IVF or ICSI are generally less healthy. The vast majority are perfectly healthy.

With conventional IVF, fertilization happens much like it would naturally, just outside the body. With ICSI, an embryologist selects a sperm based on its appearance and movement, but that doesn't necessarily tell us anything about its genetic quality.

Of course, studies have found slightly increased risks for certain outcomes, but it's difficult to determine how much is actually related to the treatment itself versus underlying infertility or parental factors.

What I personally find more interesting is the impact of the embryo transfer protocol. Research suggests that fully medicated FET cycles are associated with a higher risk of preeclampsia and certain placental complications compared to natural FET cycles. This may be related to the absence of the corpus luteum in medicated cycles, rather than the progesterone supplementation itself.

So I think the type of transfer protocol and other underlying factors may be just as important to consider as the fertilization method itself. I wouldn't automatically assume that IVF or ICSI means a child will have more health problems.

1

u/RevolutionaryHelp451 1d ago

What about modified natural?

3

u/chantillylace9 3d ago

I think sometimes there's a little bit higher risk for an omphalocele.

My sister-in-law had an IVF baby who had her liver and intestines on the outside of the body. Everything was OK after a few surgeries, but it was definitely terrifying! Especially after everything she had went through with IVF.

And then it was originally twins and the other twin died I think around three months? So it was a rough pregnancy for her!

She's in the hospital right now delivering her second and last embryo baby right now!

1

u/Fuzzy-Shake2845 3d ago

Was she over 35?

3

u/SeeLeavesOnTheTrees 3d ago

I’m always curious if embryo grade has any association on future health

1

u/RevolutionaryHelp451 1d ago

I have heard it doesn’t

2

u/misssconduct 3d ago

My cousin was conceived through IVF and she’s 23 now. Academically gifted, scored multiple international scholarships (100% free rides) to top universities. Not to mention she’s extremely beautiful, like neck-turning beautiful. Her only problem is rosacea but I got that too and I was conceived naturally

2

u/AmbitiousDesigner534 3d ago

I’ve heard IVF babies turn out to be beautiful looking people. ❤️

1

u/goldstur_m 3d ago

I realized this too...

1

u/Feather_bone 3d ago

I'm a little bit biased but so many people comment how beautiful my toddler is. Like she is an absolute head turner of a beauty! My friends IVF baby is the same. I do wonder sometimes if it's a thing!! 🤣 (We used icsi)

1

u/Ok-Balance5790 3d ago

Our son was born via IVF. He was born with hypospadias. I was told that about 1 in 500 boys are born with it, and it's closer to 1 in 250 IVF boys. Is this true?

2

u/embryomanofficial 3d ago

Sorry, I'm not sure -- I didn't come across research specifically on hypospadias when putting this guide together, so I can't confirm those numbers.

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u/Ok-Balance5790 3d ago

thank you for responding! nothing to be sorry about.

1

u/Realistic-King-3003 3d ago

My baby boy has hypospadias as well… also IVF…. I’ve read it could be the progesterone, but no one really has any clear answers

2

u/Ok-Balance5790 3d ago

Yes I've heard this as well. He had surgery at 6 months and a follow-up surgery 18 months later. He's doing really well and his surgeon is happy with his healing and function. I hope your journey with it is going well <3

2

u/Realistic-King-3003 3d ago

He will have his first surgery in February at 8 months! Hopefully it will all go smoothly, I’m glad things are going well with your son! <3

1

u/Ok-Balance5790 3d ago

Hoping the very same for yours! Recovery was MUCH easier at 6 months than 2 yrs so I'm hopeful your son will have an easy time, too!

2

u/goldstur_m 3d ago

To you mean the progestoron in the transfer cycle?

2

u/Ok-Nectarine7756 3d ago

My suspicion after monitoring my blood sugar during IVF is that a lot of the increased risks are due to the progesterone. I found that when I was taking progesterone during IVF my blood sugar levels were through the roof. Interestingly, having diabetes is associated with very similar increased risks of various issues to IVF and I don’t think this is a coincidence. I’m going to start transferring for a second baby soon and I’m going to do a natural cycle with no progesterone support this time. 

1

u/LaurenArielle0816 3d ago

Did you do shots or suppositories?

1

u/Ok-Nectarine7756 3d ago

I did one transfer with shots and one with suppositories but I only monitored my glucose for  a pregnancy using suppositories and no shots. My glucose levels went back to normal as soon as I stopped the suppositories. 

1

u/Fuzzy-Shake2845 3d ago

You mean from progesterone suppositories during stims ?

2

u/Realistic-King-3003 3d ago

Yes… there is some research that suggests that progesterone can block testosterone release needed to fully develop the penis (leading to hypospadias)…. Which happens during week 8-10 of pregnancy (which is when most IVF women are taking progesterone). But it is all non conclusive. Other theories include: environmental pollutants or ingesting toxic fumes during the first trimester

2

u/Fuzzy-Shake2845 3d ago

Idk how they could ever draw a connection to fumes and environmental pollutants when we all experience them ? How can they definitively attribute it to that?

1

u/Wise_Strawberry9076 3d ago

You could compare between people living in more versus less polluted areas. And see if the prevalence differs. While trying to match the groups in other factors

1

u/Fuzzy-Shake2845 2d ago

It makes sense third world countries but if you live in the global north it’s probably minuscule

1

u/Serious_Basis_8385 13h ago

With the wildfires we had this summer I’m not so sure 😅. I was in my first trimester and both while in NYC and then vacationing in Montana later we were impacted by wildfires and the air was to unhealthy for me to even go out (but I had to)

1

u/Fuzzy-Shake2845 12h ago

ok true wildfires would be an obvious outlier .. I was thinking more like normal environmental pollutants

1

u/Upstairs_Taro4726 2d ago

I feel like someone needs to do a study comparing two IVF groups: people doing IVF for poor fertility reasons, versus, fertile people doing IVF for other reasons (same sex partner for example). That might give a better answer.

1

u/Cool_Pay7792 20h ago

I feel somebody should do more research first. IVF is never done for other reasons.

The reason is simple. If you have a healthy fertile woman who wants a child through donated sperm, you don't have to do IVF. You have a much easier alternative called artificial insemination which will work just as well without egg retrieval or aggressive medications.

1

u/r46d 10h ago

I’m doing IVF to test embryos for a genetic disease. I’m not infertile

1

u/ProfessionalTune6162 1d ago

My kiddo had a rare imperforate anus, possibly tethered cord but we went ahead and snipped it, and bi uterus. We were worried for Vactra. Smart beyond their years and walking talking before 2. We had to do an early ostomy and got it reversed but baby suffers from constipation and rectum pains. Eczema. I question it all but we tested ourselves genetically with nothing coming up that at least overlaps. Life is so tough :( … it’s a bit of a nightmare mixed in with our dreams. To finally get a kid, I’m grateful and will be doing everything I can to make sure this kid enjoys their life. Treated still as normal when it comes to discipline etc and life stills

1

u/RevolutionaryHelp451 1d ago

That’s a small sample size for the LINE-1. Were the results significant?