Teenagers born through IVF may be more prone to aggression and conduct problems at school than other youngsters - and "softer" parenting could be to blame.
British researchers have found that while children conceived through assisted reproductive technology are “extremely well adjusted”, there was a weak trend towards behavioural problems at the age of 18.
But Australia's first test tube baby, Candice Reed, now 28, has challenged the findings, which suggest these children are slightly more likely to be suspended or expelled from school, or show signs of aggression.
The University of Cambridge study, presented at a fertility conference in Brisbane last month, compared 26 IVF children with 38 kids who were adopted and 63 who were conceived naturally.
“We found very few differences between the groups and found that the IVF adolescents were on the whole functioning extremely well and very positive about their IVF conception,” said researcher Lucy Blake from the Centre for Family Research.
“But we did have a small difference in conduct problems which is worthy of further study.”
The research, which included interviews with both parents and the child, found IVF mothers had higher levels of warmth and so-called disciplinary indulgence towards their children.
“This finding that IVF mothers were slightly more easygoing could perhaps be related to how the adolescents behaved,” Ms Blake said.
But Ms Reed, who attended the conference, said she thought any such trend would be “extremely unlikely”.
“Of course every child is different, and I can't speak for us all, but I can't imagine there's any trend towards aggression or other problems,” Ms Reed said.
And as for differences in parenting style, this too is doubtful, she says.
“I'm in a perfect position to address this as my brother was conceived naturally and there were the same usually disciplinary rules for both of us in the family house, so there was no leniency in my experience,” she said.
More than 80,000 IVF babies have been born in Australia since Candice was delivered in Melbourne on June 23, 1980.
