Teenagers conceived through assisted reproductive technologies are just as smart as their naturally conceived counterparts, a major new study has confirmed.
More than 13,000 children conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) between 1995 and 2000 in Denmark achieved the same academic test scores as a group of 21,000 naturally conceived children, according to a study released on Monday by researchers from the Fertility Clinic at the Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark.
The study compared scores of Year 9 students on standardised tests.
Medical Director at Melbourne IVF, Dr Lyndon Hale, said in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and other ARTs have been associated with increased risk of prematurity and higher twin rates, which have been linked to greater risks of lower intelligence.
Dr Hale said the study would reassure parents considering ART-born babies are "just like any other child". He said it would also debunk conspiracies that IVF babies were "supernormal".
"I have had couples suggest to me that their child is so smart and it may be due to the IVF," he said. "We don't add anything to the culture dish."
There was also no difference found between ART singletons and twins in the study, revealed at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) annual meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. This was a sign there was no "higher obstetric risk" in ART twins, as has been previously suggested.
Dr Hale said the findings would be helpful to "couples or people wanting to have children through IVF who have been concerned their child's prospects would not be as good".
A study by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute released last year found young adults conceived through IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies are just as healthy and mentally stable as people conceived naturally, although they may carry a slightly higher risk of some illnesses such as asthma.
