Is IVF Harmful to Your Health? Are IVF Children Different? 9 Beliefs, 9 Answers

Most couples considering IVF come to us not with a medical question but with a worry: “Will this harm me?” “Will the child be healthy?” “Will they be able to have children of their own?” These worries are not foolish; behind them are either old studies or hearsay. Below are the nine beliefs we hear most often, answered from the patient guidance of reproductive medicine societies (ASRM, HFEA) — without exaggerated reassurance and without hiding real risks.

1. “IVF drugs cause cancer”

This concern has a history: decades ago, some studies suggested a possible link between fertility drugs and ovarian cancer. ASRM’s 2024 guideline, however, reports that more recent, higher-quality studies show no clear association between these drugs and ovarian cancer; 30-year follow-up data also found no link with colorectal cancer. The guideline does not confirm a consistent increase in breast cancer either. In short: today’s evidence does not support the statement “it causes cancer”. For those with a family history of cancer, assessment is still individual — mention it at your first consultation.

2. “Stimulation uses up your eggs and brings menopause forward”

Every month the ovaries “start” a group of follicles; only one matures and the rest are lost that month anyway. Stimulation drugs do not draw on future eggs; they bring a larger share of that month’s already-recruited group to maturity. So there is no evidence that an IVF cycle “depletes” ovarian reserve or hastens menopause. The age of menopause is set by genetics and general health.

3. “IVF children are sickly, weak or ‘different’”

The honest answer has two parts. First: the great majority of children born after IVF are healthy, and since 1978 millions have grown into adults. Second: ASRM and HFEA state plainly that IVF pregnancies have somewhat higher rates of preterm birth and low birth weight, and that a small increase in certain birth differences has been reported. It is not clear whether this increase comes from the procedure or from the couple’s underlying infertility; a large part of it is linked to multiple pregnancy (see point 6). There is no evidence for the “different child” belief; “a pregnancy that is followed a little more closely” is accurate.

4. “IVF children can’t have children of their own”

The world’s first IVF baby, Louise Brown, gave birth to two children naturally; the IVF generation is now raising its own children. There is one nuance and we do not hide it: if male infertility has a genetic cause (for example certain changes on the Y chromosome), that trait can be passed to a son. This comes not from IVF but from the father’s genetic condition, and is discussed in genetic counselling before treatment. So: an IVF child is fertile; a genetic cause in the family is assessed separately.

5. “IVF is unnatural”

IVF changes one single step: the meeting of egg and sperm happens outside the body, in the laboratory. Everything after that — the embryo attaching to the uterus, nine months of development, birth, breastfeeding — is no different. The mother carries her own baby in her own womb. Explaining the process is our job; questions of belief beyond it are ones we respect, but medicine does not answer.

6. “IVF always means twins”

Twins come not from the nature of IVF but from placing more than one embryo in the uterus. Multiple pregnancy clearly raises the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and blood-pressure problems for the mother — HFEA calls it the single biggest preventable risk of IVF. That is why the world standard today is single embryo transfer in suitable patients. How many embryos to transfer is decided with your doctor based on age and embryo quality.

7. “Egg retrieval is very painful and dangerous”

Egg retrieval is a short procedure done under intravenous sedation with ultrasound guidance; you do not feel it. According to ASRM, mild to moderate pelvic pain afterwards is common and usually settles within a day or two. Serious complications (bleeding, infection, injury to nearby organs) are very rare. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a real risk; modern protocols and close monitoring have made its severe forms rare, and you are told in advance which symptoms should prompt a call.

8. “Once you’ve done IVF, it’s always IVF”

No. IVF does not change the body; the cause of infertility remains what it was. For a couple with blocked tubes, natural pregnancy was already unlikely; in unexplained infertility, spontaneous pregnancy after IVF — or while waiting for it — is not rare at all. After every treatment the “next step” is reassessed.

9. “During IVF you must lie down and quit work”

During stimulation you come to the clinic a few times for monitoring ultrasounds; there is no need to stop working. Bed rest after transfer has not been shown to help — we explain this in detail in our guide to the two weeks after transfer. Treatment is not life put on hold; it is a schedule added to life.

What are the real risks, and are we hiding anything?

No. The known risks of IVF are: OHSS, multiple pregnancy and the preterm birth linked to it, procedural complications (rare), ectopic pregnancy (possible with IVF too), a small increase in birth differences (cause not fully clear), and the emotional load of the process. Each of these is discussed at the first consultation — even if you don’t ask, we will tell you. The decision should be made with knowledge, not fear.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Individual risk assessment requires a physician’s examination.

Sources

• ASRM — Fertility drugs and cancer: a guideline (2024)
• ASRM — In vitro fertilization (IVF): what are the risks?
• HFEA (UK) — Risks of fertility treatment
• HFEA (UK) — In vitro fertilisation (IVF)