IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that helps couples who are having difficulty conceiving a child. During IVF, mature eggs are retrieved from the female partner and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory.

The resulting embryos are then transferred to the uterus. While IVF has helped many couples achieve their dreams of parenthood, there have been concerns raised about the risks associated with this technology. One of the most common questions is whether IVF increases the likelihood of child cancer.

Understanding the Risk Factors for Childhood Cancer

Before discussing whether IVF increases the risk of child cancer, it’s important to first understand the risk factors for childhood cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there are a few factors that can increase a child’s risk of developing cancer:.

Personal or family history of cancer
Exposure to radiation
Exposure to certain chemicals and substances
Inherited gene mutations

The Research on IVF and Child Cancer

While there have been concerns about the potential link between IVF and child cancer, the research on this topic has been mixed.

Some studies have suggested that there may be a slightly higher risk of certain types of cancer, while others have found no increased risk at all.

One large study that was published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics looked at more than one million children born in Denmark between 1996 and 2012.

The researchers found that there was no overall increased risk of cancer among children conceived through IVF. However, they did find a slightly higher risk of certain types of cancers, including liver and ovarian cancer.

Another study, which was published in the Journal of Urology, found that boys who were conceived through ART (which includes IVF as well as other fertility treatments) had a slightly higher risk of developing testicular cancer later in life.

The researchers found that the risk was highest for boys who were conceived through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which is a type of IVF that involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg.

However, it’s worth noting that even in studies that have found a slightly higher risk of cancer among children conceived through IVF, the overall risk is still quite low.

For example, the JAMA Pediatrics study found that the absolute risk of cancer among children conceived through IVF was just 1.5 percent.

What Might Explain the Link?

So if there is a potential link between IVF and child cancer, what might explain it? There are a few theories:.

Epigenetic changes: Some researchers believe that the process of IVF might result in epigenetic changes, which are changes to the way that genes are expressed. These changes might increase the risk of cancer.
Fertility problems: It’s possible that the increased risk of cancer among children conceived through IVF is actually due to the underlying fertility problems of the parents. For example, some studies have found that couples who struggle with infertility may be more likely to have a child with cancer, regardless of whether they use IVF or not.
Treatment: It’s also possible that the increased risk of cancer among children conceived through IVF is due to the treatments that are involved. For example, some fertility medications used during IVF may increase the risk of cancer.

Reducing the Risk of Child Cancer with IVF

While the risk of child cancer associated with IVF is low, there are still steps that can be taken to reduce this risk even further. Here are a few:.

Choose a reputable clinic: When choosing an IVF clinic, it’s important to do your research. Look for a clinic that has a good reputation and a track record of success.
Limit exposure to fertility drugs: While fertility medications are often necessary during IVF, it’s important to limit their use as much as possible. Talk to your doctor about whether there are any alternative treatments that might be effective.
Consider single embryo transfer: Multiple embryo transfer is sometimes used during IVF to increase the chances of success. However, this also increases the risk of multiple births, which can be a risk factor for certain types of cancer. Consider opting for single embryo transfer instead.

Conclusion

While there have been concerns raised about the potential link between IVF and child cancer, the research on this topic has been mixed.

While some studies have suggested that there may be a slightly higher risk of certain types of cancer, the overall risk is still quite low. There are steps that can be taken to reduce this risk even further, including choosing a reputable clinic, limiting exposure to fertility drugs, and considering single embryo transfer.