Fertility Treatments Increase Risk of Birth Defects

Interesting research. Some of the doctors say the risks are no big deal, but we're still only into one generation of most of the interventions. Last year, the first girl via en vitro gave birth herself. Time usually tells about these things....

The biggest difference was seen in the rate of gastrointestinal problems, such as defects in the abdominal wall or organs not in the right place. Babies conceived through reproductive technology were nearly nine times more likely to have such problems _ one in 200 births versus six per 10,000 for the others.

Also, don't underestimate the economic and moral incentives to downplay any risk. (Remember HPV? Biggest cause of infertility in women. The women who delay child-bearing, have multiple sex partners, get HPV and then find out they're barren at age 38 don't want to hear about one more problem with their fertility.)