Are IVF and ICSI Babies More Likely to Have Birth Defects?

By Kai Colvin - Senior Medical Research Editor | June 21st, 2012

Encouraged by optimism—Marie Storey and her husband Mark knew their pregnancy options were limited.

After a rare vasectomy reversal failure, the couple opted for ICSI or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

ICSI is a booming procedure in the fertility world. The procedure involves a single sperm being surgically injected directly into an egg — a famed option for males who are not producing enough sperm for traditional IVF treatment (sperm and egg are combined in a petri dish).

“We didn’t know anything about the procedure when we went for it,” stated Marie.

The couple proceeded with the procedure unconscious of the surprises to come. Marie took fertility drugs to stimulate her ovaries to produce more eggs and Mark’s sperm was injected into his wife’s eggs.

Two embryos were implanted and the couple was electrified when they discovered Marie was finally pregnant.

A True Blessing

Seven weeks early at 3lb 14oz—Lloyd (smaller of the twins) and 4lb 14oz— Mackenzie had arrived.

Four days into the world, Mackenzie was challenged with feeding difficulties and diagnosed with twisted bowel syndrome, ultimately requiring surgery.

Twelve months into his sporadic challenges he underwent surgery to insert a feeding tube and was bravely battling a hiatus hernia, in which the stomach bulges into the chest wall.

Three years later, 5 year old Mackenzie is feeling good. “He is living a perfectly normal life,” says Marie. “He is getting on well at school, eating really well and putting on weight,” she added.

Hidden Risks

Medical debate has surrounded the risks of babies being born under IVF and ICSI procedures for years.

Should we be more concerned with the risks involved or fertility doctors not informing patients of the risk itself?

While some studies show ICSI babies are twice as likely to suffer birth defects, scientists demonstrate this is resultant of ICSI disrupting natural selection, in which only the best suited and strongest sperm fertilizes the egg.

While remaining overjoyed of their ability to become pregnant using IVF with ICSI, Mark and Marie acknowledged they were never alerted of any possible risks to their baby.

The overwhelming majority of babies born using ICSI or conventional IVF are impeccably healthy. However, concerns of risks are absolutely existent with any fertility treatment.

Conflicting Results

Newest Study- ICSI babies are twice as likely as those conceived naturally or by conventional IVF to suffer birth defects such as cleft palate, heart and lung conditions, cerebral palsy and blood disorders.

Author Professor Michael Davies-South Australia Study-concluded that ICSI risks as ‘sky high’.

Nanjing Medical University- journal Fertility and Sterility Study- concluded there is no variance in risk for babies between IVF and ICSI. (Same results yielded these exact results in 56 previous studies)

The bottom line—should parents trying to conceive using IVF or ICSI be concerned about the potential risks?

The best approach to any form of fertility treatment is to speak to your doctor. According to the inconsistent studies, it is not known whether there are increased risks of defects directly associated with the ICSI procedure itself or infertility treatments in general.

Discourse these results with your IVF specialists to gain a better understanding of each IVF procedure, your personalized treatment and diagnosis and the connected risks to you or your baby.

To learn more about ICSI, find a fertility specialist in your area.