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CDC Concerned About High Use of Fertility Procedures

The Associated Press reports on February 7, 2002 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a report that warns about the dangers associated with the increased use of fertility procedures. The number of procedures increased from 64,724 in 1996 to 81,899 in 1998.

The CDC warned that assisted fertility does carry risk. The nearly 82,000 procedures performed in 1998 only led to about 20,000 live births. When there were live births, there were multiple babies 56 percent of the time and there lies the CDC’s concern.

Women who have multiple numbers of babies, twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc., are subject to a significantly higher risk of pregnancy complications. The babies themselves are also at risk for low birth weight and long-term disability.

In women who become pregnant naturally, multiple births only occur about 3 percent of the time.

“We hope the information will provide a starting point for patients to discuss some of these risks with their providers when they're planning the specifics of the treatment,” said Laura Schieve, chief of the CDC's assisted reproductive technology unit.

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