IVF babies cancer risk

BABIES born through IVF are almost three times as likely to develop cancer in childhood, a study has found.

Experts say this might be due to eggs being fertilised by potentially defective sperm grown in a lab – rather than the strongest reaching them by natural selection. Hormones used in IVF could also affect the foetus during a critical growth period growth, increasing risks.

Researchers say problems that cause parents’ infertility in the first place may equally be to blame.

More than five million babies have been born through IVF since 1978.