IVF Babies at Greater Risk of Exposure to Potentially Harmful Medicines

IVF and ICSI pregnancies were exposed to potentially harmful medicines at a higher rate compared to natural pregnancies.

An embryologist holds a dish with human embryos at the La Jolla IVF Clinic in La Jolla, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2007. Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

A potential reason for the increased risk of birth defects associated with pregnancies achieved through assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been found.

An Australian study revealed that in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) pregnancies had higher exposure to category D medications that could potentially harm the fetus.