Biomedical
Cancer Risk Among Children Born After Fertility Treatment
Marie Hargreave
Peer Reviewed
Abstract
Summary of Cancer Risk Study in Children Born After Fertility Treatment
Study Overview
Research Focus: Cancer risk in children conceived through fertility treatments Sample Size: Over 8.5 million children Study Period: 2010-2021, with follow-up to June 2022Key Findings
Overall Cancer Risk: No significant increased risk of childhood cancer Specific Cancer Risks: Increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children born after: Frozen embryo transfer (FET): Hazard ratio of 1.61 Fresh embryo transfer (ET) in 2010-2015 cohort Fertility Treatments Examined Artificial reproduction technologies (ART): Fresh embryo transfer (ET) Frozen embryo transfer (FET) Artificial inseminationSignificance
Largest study to date using high-quality registry data Highlights potential cancer risks associated with fertility treatments Calls for further research to understand underlying mechanismsLimitations and Considerations
Unable to definitively attribute increased leukemia risk to treatments Other studies suggest risk may not be solely due to underlying infertility Emphasizes need for continued investigation into long-term effects of fertility treatments
Key Questions About Cancer Risk in Children Born After Fertility Treatment
Is there an increased cancer risk for children born through fertility treatments?
The study found no overall increased risk of childhood cancer among children born after fertility treatments. However, there was an increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children born after frozen embryo transfer (FET).
What types of fertility treatments were studied?
The study examined artificial reproduction technologies (ART), including fresh embryo transfer (ET), frozen embryo transfer (FET), and artificial insemination.
How large was the study sample?
The study assessed more than 8.5 million children born between 2010 and 2021, with follow-up to June 2022.
What specific cancer risks were identified?
Children born after FET had an increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), with a hazard ratio of 1.61. In a restricted cohort (2010-2015), children born after fresh ET also showed an increased risk of leukemia.
Could the increased risk be due to infertility rather than fertility treatments?
While this study couldn't rule out underlying infertility as a factor, other studies have found increased cancer risk in ART children even when compared to children of infertile parents who didn't use ART.
