International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Boys that are born as a result of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) may inherit the infertility of their fathers, according to scientists.

A study carried out at the Institute of Child Health in London, UK, found that boys conceived using the type of fertility treatment often had short fingers, which is a trait associated with infertility.

Men with low sperm counts often have ring fingers that are an equal length to their index finger.

IVF, which involves a single sperm being injected into a female egg, is responsible for one in 50 births in Britain.

During the study, 211 six-year-olds conceived through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were compared with 195 naturally conceived children.

Alastair Sutcliffe, a pediatrician at the Institute of Child Health in London, led the study, which is the first of its kind on children.

"We don't yet know the implication of the findings because the children are very young, but we need to inform people (about the possible risks of ICSI)," he said.

In 2007 a record 36,861 women had IVF treatment and one in six couples have trouble conceiving, according to the Infertility Network UK.

Posted by David Smith