Are IVF babies normal?

Are IVF babies normal?

There have always been initial concerns about the health and development of babies conceived through IVF and until recently it has been hard to determine if there are long term health problems.

As of last year, more than 8 million babies have been born as a result of IVF treatment and it is estimated that almost 1 in 25 Australian babies are born with the help of ART.

It hasn’t been easy to perform studies on the health and development of children conceived through IVF previously as it was a very new technology and the long-term effects were unknown, however since the IVF industry turned 40 in 2018, researchers have performed a number of thorough studies to help put the minds of all the parents at ease.

Studies have not only found that the babies conceived with the help of IVF are almost identical in milestone development to those conceived naturally, but studies have found that ART achieved possibly more milestones (90.6%) than the naturally conceived children (82.9%) at 1 year old.

Research has strongly suggested that the newer generations of IVF children may be at lower risk of lower birth-weights since the IVF industry has had vast improvements on the techniques used in the lab.

More importantly, a Dutch study following the health and development of children born from 1980-2001 from women treated with sub-fertility treatments found that there was no increased risk of the child developing cancer within the first 21 years of their life, an important and significant discovery that will put the minds of many parents at ease.

The important message from these studies for patients who are concerned about the long term health of their children conceived from fertility treatment, is that they can be reassured that not have an increased risk of cancer and the children appear to be developing normally.

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FAQ

How does Fertility First keep fertility treatment and IVF costs down?

As a Doctor-owned Medical Practice, our fertility and IVF treatment costs do not need to cover overheads and/or shareholder dividends, all of which have to come out of the income derived from patients’ treatment cycle fees at other fertility clinics in Sydney.

What is the NSW fertility treatment rebates?

From the 1st October 2022, the NSW Government announced a rebate of $2,000 in OOP expenses for all eligible patients. Fertility First is pleased to support the NSW Government’s fertility rebate at our Sydney fertility clinic.

What makes Fertility First different to other Sydney fertility clinics?

Fertility First is privately owned, which means we can place more focus on our patients. We offer a holistic approach to fertility and believe that it’s important to minimise the invasiveness of the fertility testing process and only carry out the necessary investigations, maximising your chance of a successful outcome. We offer extensive preliminary fertility testing, including Halosperm Assay.

We were one of the first Sydney fertility clinics to offer a donor sperm and donor egg program, thanks to our partnership with Central IVF.

How do I choose the best fertilty clinic for me?

Choosing the right fertility clinic in Sydney is a very important decision. You should consider factors like success rates, clinic location and appointment times, fertility treatment costs, repor with the Fertility Specialist and what treatment options are available.

Does Fertility First offer preliminary fertility testing?

Yes. We offer a range of fertility testing for both males and females. We aim to have fertility test results back within 2 to 3 weeks, which means, unless any assessment of the fallopian tubes is required, fertility treatment options can then be considered.

Does Fertility First offer treatment for same sex couples and singles?

Yes. Fertility First offers a range of fertility treatments that are suitable for same sex couples and singles, including our donor sperm program. See our fertility treatment page for a full guide.

Does Fertility First offer Medicare rebates?

Yes. In order to assist you with a Medicare rebate for your fertility treatment, you will need a current referral to Fertility First.

Note: GP referrals are valid for 12 months, and specialist referrals are valid for 3 months.

Does Fertility First offer IVF treatment?

Yes. IVF treatment is offered to suitable patients after preliminary testing.