3 September 2019

MCRI study published in Nature Communications found ART effect on babies' genes is temporary

Melbourne IVF logo

Written by

Melbourne IVF

Today the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) released a study, published in the latest edition of Nature Communications. It found that any effect that assisted reproduction technology has on babies’ genes is largely corrected by adulthood.

Prof John McBain and the team at Melbourne IVF, part of Virtus Health, have been working on this study for many years.

The study shows that events which occur in early development, including ovarian stimulation, manipulation of the embryo and the extra hormones common in fertility treatment cycles, can impact gene health or epigenetics but these effects are, fortunately, short lived.

Dr Lyndon Hale, Melbourne IVF’s Medical Director, said: “IVF is a relatively new approach to conceiving children and all would-be parents who go through IVF are, understandably, going to be concerned about the health of their children as they grow up.

“The MCRI study continues to investigate the long term health of children, and now adults, who have been conceived from IVF. These data, offer reassuring evidence that in the long run, the outcomes are essentially good,” said Dr Hale.

Share this