First IVF Kids Registry in U.S. Announced by AIA

The American Infertility Association (AIA) is developing the first database in the United States to track the health and welfare of children conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF). This patient-driven registry will collect information from the parents of IVF children and participation will be voluntary.

The registry, which will be overseen by the AIA Board of Directors and a scientific committee comprised of doctors, nurses, patient advocates, and mental health professionals, will track general health information from pregnancy through at least three years, including birth weight, birth defects, surgical procedures, and the developmental milestones of IVF children.

"We have begun working with several fertility clinics across the country. We expect to have the first children in the registry within the next three to six months," said Pamela Madsen, Executive Director and founder of The American Infertility Association. "This is a bold first step, but as an IVF mother this is the best gift I could ever give my children."

Numerous studies have been done over the years in an effort to gather more conclusive information about the well-being of children who are born through assisted reproductive technology. Advocates say such a registry will be instrumental in bringing the sometimes conflicting data together for the benefit of parents and children alike.

David Hoffman, M.D., of IVF Florida Reproductive Associates and former President of the Society of Reproductive Technology comments on the voluntary nature of the registry.

"The medical community has discussed starting a national registry of IVF children but it is appropriate for this to be a patient driven initiative. Patients have no professional bias, thus having a patient driven registry avoids potential conflict of interest."