Most long-term health outcomes appear similar between children conceived through IVF and those conceived without fertility treatment. A few small differences have been reported, but some may be related to the parents’ underlying infertility rather than the fertility treatment itself.
A 2025 review found that men with infertility are more likely to have certain health conditions, but the reasons aren’t clear and the overall risks are still low, suggesting that fertility testing can be a good chance to check on general health.
The ASRM published their 2024 guidelines on cancer and fertility drugs, offering an overview of the latest research on whether fertility drugs raise the risk of cancer.
Researchers in a 2022 study found an increase in childhood cancer rates in children born from frozen embryo transfers (FETs) compared to fresh transfers or spontaneously conceived births, however the small sample size of those affected with cancer make it hard to draw conclusions.
