Researchers based at Oxford University claim that a child who is born through In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is more than double likely to develop asthma compared to a child that is planned and then conceived naturally. During IVF, an egg is taken from the woman's ovaries and then fertilised with the man’s sperm at a laboratory inside a dish. This fertilisation process is referred to as ‘in vitro’, which is the Latin meaning for ‘in glass’. The resultant embryo is then placed back inside the woman's womb to grow and develop. Cost of the treatment is incredibly expensive, with the UK and the U.S. leading the way in regards to each ‘live birth’ and it is the actual costliness of the underlying healthcare system that is taken into account more than anything else. Unfortunately, in recent times IVF has faced many controversies and some babies from IVF treatment have even joined together on internet forums later in their life to voice their distress and anger with their situation. Many feel socially ostracised and frustrated about not knowing their donor parent and genetic relatives they may have. Le affermazioni dell'asma derivano da quello che è il primo studio del Regno Unito ad analizzare i rischi per l'asma a seguito di una concezione di fecondazione in vitro e sono stati recentemente pubblicati sulla rivista Human. Una possibile connessione è stata istituita dagli scienziati dell'università a seguito di un'analisi di 18.818 bambini nati nel Regno Unito in un periodo di due anni tra il 2000 e il 2002. Secondo lo studio, i bambini concepiti dopo il trattamento della fertilità, hanno anche maggiori probabilità di soffrire di respiro sibilante o devono usare una medicina anti-asmatica all'età di cinque anni; Una potenziale indicazione di asma più grave.  Nonostante la possibile connessione tra il trattamento della fecondazione in vitro e i problemi polmonari, i ricercatori sottolineano che i risultati non dimostrano che l'asma è causata dalla fecondazione in vitro e che un bambino nato di conseguenza rimane a basso rischio. L'asma infantile è già un grosso problema nel Regno Unito. In totale si stima che ci siano circa 1,1 milioni di bambini che stanno attualmente ricevendo cure per l'asma nel Regno Unito, un equivalente di 1 su 11 bambini su 11. I tassi di asma sono saliti alle stelle quattro volte dagli anni '70 e alcuni dei numerosi fattori di rischio per il problema sono stati coperti in dettaglio dalla farmacia di specialisti medici. Proprio quest'anno abbiamo visto una vasta gamma di diversi problemi che possono contribuire allo sviluppo dell'asma, come Fumo di tabacco, Infezioni virali emothers taking antibiotics during pregnancy. In addition, approximately one child in every seven will experience 'wheezing' at some point during their first five years. The Oxford University study will raise concerns as the results show that IVF children are twice as likely to develop wheezing. Researchers conducting the study found that children born to sub-fertile parents were 39% more likely to be experiencing asthma symptoms by the time they were aged five. Also the same children were 27% more likely to suffer with wheezing. A thorough analysis of the results showed a link between health problems and assisted reproduction technology (ART). ARTs can include IVF as well as ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection); which involves injecting a single sperm straight into an egg to fertilise it. Lead researcher Dr Claire Carson of Oxford University says that in total 15% of the children involved in their study were asthmatic at age five, with an increase to 24% within the 104 children born through assisted-reproduction technologies. As only 104 were born via this method, scientists have urged caution when translating the results. Dr Carson explains: “Childhood asthma is a common condition in the UK where the prevalence of the condition is higher than other European countries, and to our knowledge this is the first UK study of asthma after IVF conceptions. Our analysis suggests that it is the ART group in particular who are at higher risk.” 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. Overall research suggests that the absolute risk of asthma increasing after IVF appears to be small. Further work is needed to establish what might be causing this association and whether there are other factors at play other than the IVF treatment itself. In the meantime those considering IVF should speak to their GP about the benefits and health risks in order to make an informed decision.” Medical Specialists Pharmacy is able to help you if you are suffering from asthma. We can provide any new or existing asthma patient with a wide range of medications. If you have already been prescribed an inhaler, have lost your inhaler, or run out and cannot get a prescription immediately, we are able to supply you an inhaler to help your asthma symptoms. You can undergo a quick and easy confidential online consultation with one of our GMC-registered Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription which is passed to our in-house RPSGB–registered Pharmacists and dispensed to a location of your choice. We have both blue (relievers) inhalers such as Ventolin and Salbutamol, and brown (preventers) inhalers such as Qvar Beclomethasone and Qvar Easi-Breathe.