I'll bet the Hershey Bar Road does not cause it.Does the method of conception affect asthma?...
Fertility treatment 'asthma link'
5 December 2012 - Children born after fertility treatments, such as IVF, may have a slightly higher chance of developing asthma, research suggests.
In a study of more than 13,000 UK children, five-years-olds were about twice as likely to have asthma if they were not conceived naturally. The children were also more likely to need medication, which could be an indication of more severe asthma. The findings were published in the journal Human Reproduction. The researchers, at the Universities of Oxford and Essex, analysed data from children born between 2000 and 2002.
Researcher Dr Claire Carson said 15% of all the children in the study had had asthma at the age of five, but this proportion had risen to 24% among the 104 of them born through assisted-reproduction technologies. She said it was interesting that the pattern had emerged, but far too soon to say if IVF treatment resulted in higher rates of asthma. Other explanations, such as genetics, may explain the association. Dr Carson told the BBC that parents should not be put off IVF. "Assisted reproduction technologies offer a chance to become a parent when there isn't another option," she said. "For the majority of children asthma is quite manageable."
Malayka Rahman, from the charity Asthma UK, said: "This study suggests that there might be an association between IVF treatment and asthma developing in children, but the sample size for this study is small and currently the research in this area generally is not conclusive. "Those considering IVF should speak to their GP about the benefits and health risks in order to make an informed decision."
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Childlessness 'may increase likelihood of early death'
5 December 2012 - The study looked at data from couples who wanted to start a family
Involuntary childlessness may increase the likelihood of early death, the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reports. The Danish study looked at more than 21,000 couples seeking IVF treatment. They found women who were unsuccessful in having a child were four times more likely to die prematurely than women who had been mothers. Critics stress that the risk of early death was low - with just 316 people in total dying over the 11 year study.
The authors of the paper also point out that their research suggests a link between childlessness and premature death and not a cause. They wrote: "Mindful that association is not the same thing as causation, our results suggest that the mortality rates are higher in the childless." The researchers based their findings on data obtained from various population registers in Denmark on births, deaths and IVF procedures from 1994 to 2005. During this time 21,276 childless couples registered for IVF treatment, 15,149 children were born and a total of 96 women and 220 men died.
Four times more likely
After analysis, the results suggested having a child cut the risk of early death, particularly among women. Childless women were four times more likely to die early from circulatory disease, cancers, and accidents than those with children- and men were about twice as likely. Critics stress it is hard to determine the underlying cause of the results seen.
Ingrid Collins, a consultant psychologist, said: "This is a very specific situation of people who are trying to have children - the study's findings cannot be used to generalise across the whole general population. "People having IVF tend to be desperate for a child, if they are unsuccessful they may be depressed- it may even be this rather than childlessness that is playing a part. One can only guess. "It is complicated and many factors play a part in death rates- people with deep spiritual belief, being married, having a higher social class - these can all help in living longer."
People 'hang on'