According to several studies, women who undergo fertility treatment are 40 percent more likely to develop serious complications in pregnancy, reports the Telegraph.
American researchers and the National Institutes of Health looked at existing studies from 1995 to 2011 in order to determine if women who have IVF are at higher risk compared with those who had natural pregnancies or artificial insemination.
They found that the odds of pre-eclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension were 41 per cent higher after IVF compared with other groups.
Pre-eclampsia is a common pregnancy complication that tends to occur during the first pregnancy, and can lead to the death of the mother and child. High blood pressure for the mother can cause seizures and even death.
Also, as the embryo is grown in the lab, scientists speculate that this could lead to poor placenta development in the mother, which in turn would make future problems likely.
Another possibility is that women who opt for IVF tend to be older and have other health issues. If you have trouble getting pregnant, it is also more likely you have difficulty maintaining a pregnancy.
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