Researchers based at Oxford University claim that a child who is born
through In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is more than double likely to
develop asthma compared to a child that is planned and then conceived
naturally. During IVF, an egg is taken from the woman’s ovaries and then
fertilised with the man’s sperm at a laboratory inside a dish. This
fertilisation process is referred to as ‘in vitro’, which is the Latin
meaning for ‘in glass’. The resultant embryo is then placed back inside
the woman’s womb to grow and develop.
Cost of the treatment is incredibly expensive, with the UK and the
U.S. leading the way in regards to each ‘live birth’ and it is the
actual costliness of the underlying healthcare system that is taken into
account more than anything else. Unfortunately, in recent times IVF has
faced many controversies and some babies from IVF treatment have even
joined together on internet forums later in their life to voice their
distress and anger with their situation. Many feel socially ostracised
and frustrated about not knowing their donor parent and genetic
relatives they may have.
The asthma claims stem from what is the first ever UK study to
analyse asthma risks following an IVF conception and have recently been
published in the journal Human Reproduction. A possible connection was
established by scientists at the University following an analysis of
18,818 children born in the UK in a two-year period between 2000 and
2002.
According to the study, children conceived after fertility treatment,
are also more likely to suffering wheezing or have to use an
anti-asthmatic medicine by the age of five; a potential indication of
more severe asthma. Despite the possible connection between IVF
treatment and lung problems, the researchers stress that the findings do
not definitely prove asthma is caused by IVF and that a child born as a
result remains at low risk.
Childhood asthma is already a massive problem in the UK. In total it
is estimated there are around 1.1 million children who are currently
receiving treatment for asthma in the UK – an equivalent of 1 in every
11 children. Asthma rates have skyrocketed four-fold since the 1970s and
some of the many risk factors for the problem have been covered in
detail by Medical Specialists Pharmacy. Just this year alone we have
seen a wide range of different issues that can contribute to asthma
development, such as tobacco smoke, viral infections and mothers taking antibiotics during pregnancy.
In addition, approximately one child in every seven will experience
‘wheezing’ at some point during their first five years. The Oxford
University study will raise concerns as the results show that IVF
children are twice as likely to develop wheezing.
Researchers conducting the study found that children born to
sub-fertile parents were 39% more likely to be experiencing asthma
symptoms by the time they were aged five. Also the same children were
27% more likely to suffer with wheezing.
A thorough analysis of the results showed a link between health
problems and assisted reproduction technology (ART). ARTs can include
IVF as well as ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection); which involves
injecting a single sperm straight into an egg to fertilise it.
Lead researcher Dr Claire Carson of Oxford University says that in
total 15% of the children involved in their study were asthmatic at age
five, with an increase to 24% within the 104 children born through
assisted-reproduction technologies. As only 104 were born via this
method, scientists have urged caution when translating the results.
Dr Carson explains: “Childhood asthma is a common condition in the UK
where the prevalence of the condition is higher than other European
countries, and to our knowledge this is the first UK study of asthma
after IVF conceptions. Our analysis suggests that it is the ART group in
particular who are at higher risk.”
Malayka Rahman, from the charity Asthma UK, said: “This study
suggests that there might be an association between IVF treatment and
asthma developing in children, but the sample size for this study is
small and currently the research in this area generally is not
conclusive. Overall research suggests that the absolute risk of asthma
increasing after IVF appears to be small. Further work is needed to
establish what might be causing this association and whether there are
other factors at play other than the IVF treatment itself. In the
meantime those considering IVF should speak to their GP about the
benefits and health risks in order to make an informed decision.”
Medical Specialists Pharmacy is able to help you if you are suffering
from asthma. We can provide any new or existing asthma patient with a
wide range of medications. If you have already been prescribed an
inhaler, have lost your inhaler, or run out and cannot get a
prescription immediately, we are able to supply you an inhaler to help
your asthma symptoms. You can undergo a quick and easy confidential
online consultation with one of our GMC-registered Doctors and if
suitable, they will write you a prescription which is passed to our
in-house RPSGB–registered Pharmacists and dispensed to a location of
your choice. We have both blue (relievers) inhalers such as Ventolin and
Salbutamol, and brown (preventers) inhalers such as Qvar Beclomethasone
and Qvar Easi-Breathe.
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