Sperm treatments cause birth defects

Abnormalities in sperm which prevent men from making their wives pregnant may also be causing defects in the fetus, researchers are suggesting.

They discovered that five out of 12 women they were monitoring who had conceived via sperm injection were showing abnormalities in the fetus.

As several of the abnormalities were related to the Y chromosome, researchers from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, believe the problems may be linked with the cause of the men's infertility in the first place (The Lancet, September 16, 1995).

Related WDDTY Content

Antibiotics cause birth defects, pregnant women warned

Some antibiotics can cause severe birth defects, pregnant women have been warned this week.

Hairspray: Chemicals can cause birth defects

Women who regularly use standard hairspray more than double their chances of having a baby with a defect.

Our Drinking Water: It’s so toxic that it can cause birth defects

Our drinking water has become so toxic that pregnant women who drink it could give birth to a child with serious defects. A new study has discovered...

Antidepressant: Drug may cause birth defects

Women who take the antidepressant paroxetine (Paxil in the USA, and Seroxat in the UK) while they are pregnant could be putting their unborn baby at r...

Infertility

Q:We are facing the prospect of having to undergo investigations in an attempt to determine the cause of our infertility. We have been trying to have...

Tamoxifen link to birth defects noted by doctors

The breast cancer drug tamoxifen may cause birth defects. ...