A new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, examined data on children born in the U.K. between 1992 and 2008 as a result of assisted conception.  These children were evaluated to determine the rate of cancer development before the age of 15.  Overall, the rates of childhood cancer were the same as population-based average rates for the same time period.  There were some factors that affected the rates, including sex, age at diagnosis, birth weight, singleton versus multiple birth, parity, parental age, type of assisted conception, and cause of parental infertility.

According to Fox News, previous research, conducted in Sweden demonstrated a slightly increased risk for cancer among children born using assisted reproductive techniques.  However, researchers from University College London pointed out that this study was smaller and more limited in scope.  Other experts echo concerns about the Swedish study design and limitations.  The present study did show a slight increase in hepatoblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, but these increases were not significant.

This study was the largest, population-based study of its kind.  Researchers from the Institute of Child Health at University College London studied a cohort of 106,013 children conceived using IVF.  Researchers utilized data from the United Kingdom Human Fertilization and Embryology  Authority and compared it with data from the National Registry of Childhood Tumors.  Overall, researchers reported no increased risk of leukemia, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, central nervous system tumors, or renal or germ-cell tumors among children conceived using assisted reproduction.

WebMD explains that IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is the process of combining eggs and sperms outside of the body.  Once the egg is fertilized, the embryo or embryos are placed inside the mother’s uterus.  IVF is considered an appropriate option when one partner suffers from endometriosis, ovulation issues, antibodies that can harm sperm or eggs, sperm that cannot penetrate cervical mucus, and other fertility issues.  Since the procedure was introduced in 1981, IVF has resulted in an estimated 200,000 babies in the U.S.

IVF is still a changing technology.  An earlier National Monitor article described a version of the procedure pioneered by researchers at Newcastle University.  This new version uses the genetic material of three people: the mitochondrial DNA of a healthy female donor, the egg with a destroyed nucleus from the mother, and sperm from the father.  The purpose of this technology is to avoid passing down major diseases carried in maternal DNA.