January 6, 2015

expert reaction to study looking at the safety of assisted reproductive technology in the US

A paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has examined the rates of complications in donors and patients involved in assisted reproductive technology in the US, reporting few significant changes in outcomes over time.

Dr Richard Kennedy, President-Elect of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), said:

“Whilst the data from the US study is encouraging, the standard of safety reporting worldwide is not reliable for these complications.

“Global safety concerns are of interest to the IFFS and remain a concern particularly in the rapidly growing IVF economies where infection is endemic and OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) may not be reported.”

‘Safety of Assisted Reproductive Technology in the United States, 2000-2011’ by Jennifer F. Kawwass et al. published in JAMA on Tuesday 6 January 2015. 

Declared interests

None declared