In vitro fertilization (IVF) has changed countless lives since the first “test-tube baby” was born in 1978. Originally developed to address tubal infertility, IVF has evolved into a mainstream fertility treatment used by millions worldwide. Naturally, many people now ask: “If someone was conceived via IVF, can they grow up and have their own children?”
The good news: yes. Most IVF-conceived individuals go on to conceive naturally, enjoy healthy fertility, and raise children of their own. Here, we will examine the scientific evidence, success rates, potential genetic concerns, and medical guidance related to fertility in the next generation, drawing on rigorous, peer-reviewed research.
Can IVF Babies Have Their Own Kids? What Science Says
Extensive long-term studies indicate that children born through IVF grow into fertile adults. Follow-ups in their 30s and 40s reveal overall health—reproductive and metabolic—comparable to that of those conceived naturally. For instance, adolescents conceived via IVF in Australia demonstrated similar quality-of-life scores and reproductive health markers to non-IVF peers.
Large-scale cohort research from Japan, covering over 2,000 children conceived in 2010 and followed to nine years of age, found no significant difference in fertility proxies—such as pubertal development—between IVF and naturally conceived children. These findings collectively demonstrate that IVF children typically reach adulthood with intact reproductive capabilities.
Do IVF Babies Have Fertility Problems When They Grow Up?
Fertility is complex—obtaining a conception doesn’t guarantee a normal reproductive range. Many factors influence future fertility, including hereditary and environmental exposures.
No significant differences in fertility potential have been detected between IVF offspring and their naturally conceived peers. While early concerns emerged around imprinting disorders or epigenetic changes due to ovarian stimulation, later meta-analyses found minimal differences between singletons, especially when eSET is practiced.
However, subtle risk increases—such as minor cardiovascular or metabolic variability—have been noted in specific IVF subgroups, underscoring that reproductive outcomes are multifaceted.
How Likely Is It That IVF Babies Have Their Own Kids Naturally?
While compelling long-term data remain somewhat limited (most IVF births are only 40–45 years old), evidence suggests natural conception and reproductive patterns in IVF offspring closely mirror their counterparts.
In countries with universal eSET protocols and extensive registries (like Sweden and Australia), no decline in conception rates into adulthood has been observed. Some IVF-conceived adults have entered fertility treatment clinics for their own conception, primarily for age-related or unrelated reasons, not due to IVF conception per se. Overall, the chances of IVF individuals having children naturally appear robust and consistent with those of the general population.
Are There Any Genetic Issues Affecting Whether IVF Babies Have Their Own Kids?
IVF bypasses fertilization barriers but does not alter embryo DNA directly. However, infertility itself may carry heritable risk factors—such as Y chromosome deletions or CFTR mutations—passed to IVF children.
Clinic protocols now include sperm DNA fragmentation testing or genetic screening of embryos to minimize potential risks. So long as these robust screenings are in place, the risk of transmission of congenital or fertility-compromising genetic conditions remains low.
Studies on Whether IVF Babies Have Their Own Kids Successfully
- A 2022 study from Melbourne, which followed 193 IVF-conceived adults, found similar quality-of-life scores and reproductive outcomes compared to those from natural conceptions.
- A 2022 report from Japan, which included 2,140 children, found no significant differences in hospitalization rates, obesity, or developmental milestones at the age of nine.
- A clinical review of 547 IVF-conceived adults compared to 549 naturally conceived counterparts reported similar cardiovascular, metabolic, and reproductive phenotypes.
These findings affirm that IVF-conceived individuals carry normal fertility potential into adulthood.
Fertility in the Next Generation: IVF Babies Becoming Parents
Many IVF babies of earlier generations—from the 1980s and 1990s—have now begun families of their own. Anecdotal examples abound: Britain’s first IVF baby, Louise Brown, gave birth naturally in 2006. Numerous others from early IVF cohorts have conceived naturally in their 20s and 30s.
Online communities are full of testimonials: IVF babies who grew up, found love, and conceived without medical intervention, reflecting the real-world fertility outcomes covered by research.
Medical Experts on Whether IVF Babies Have Their Own Kids
Fertility specialists widely assert that IVF children do not face inherent reproductive barriers due to their conception method. Most emphasize the importance of single embryo transfer to minimize perinatal complications, rather than long-term fertility concerns.
Longitudinal medical doses reassure patients that IVF is a treatment for subfertile parents, not a modifier of germline genetics that could impair future generations.
Do IVF-Conceived Adults Need Fertility Treatments to Have Their Own Kids?
There is currently no robust evidence that IVF-conceived adults are more likely to require fertility assistance than non-IVF adults. Just like their peers, some may face age-related fertility declines or unrelated issues. Still, their need for treatment is typically driven by the same factors: advanced age, lifestyle, and chronic conditions.
That said, male children conceived via ICSI for severe male-factor infertility might inherit underlying sperm concerns, but with current screening, one can anticipate and manage such possibilities.
IVF Babies Have Their Own Kids: Separating Myths from Facts
Myth 1: IVF changes the child’s reproductive system permanently.
Fact: No. Except in rare genetic conditions passed down, children conceived through IVF typically develop normally and are equally fertile.
Myth 2: Children conceived through IVF are at greater risk for infertility.
Fact: Long-term cohort studies do not show increased infertility rates due to IVF.
Myth 3: Reproductive health can be negatively affected by early IVF interventions.
Fact: While perinatal risks (e.g., low birthweight, preterm) may be slightly elevated, these rarely lead to adult fertility impairment.
How CarefulTrip Relates to the Topic
While IVF does not negatively impact future fertility, many families embark on IVF journeys abroad due to access, success rates, or legal advantages. Agencies like CarefulTrip connect international patients with clinics that have high success rates and advanced safety protocols to support optimal long-term outcomes. These services include the coordination of IVF cycles, as well as legal and medical guidance, and counseling to ensure a supportive environment, mitigate stress, and align protocols with best practices that safeguard future fertility for both current and future generations.
Final Words
Decades of data and real-world stories show that IVF-conceived individuals grow up able to conceive naturally and raise their children. The initial apprehension tied to assisted conception is understandable, but current science offers reassurance.
IVF is a medical solution for parental infertility, not a modification to the human genome. With appropriate clinical safeguards and informed support, IVF births go on to form families of their own without systemic fertility issues.
For aspiring parents or current IVF families, this knowledge offers hope, not just in achieving parenthood, but in knowing that the IVF journey can build family lines that continue naturally and entirely across generations.
References
- Sunderam S, et al. “Assisted reproductive technology usage and outcomes, United States, 2023.” ASRM, 2024. (General IVF data.)
- Hart R. “Longer-term health outcomes for IVF offspring.” Hum Reprod Update, 2013.
- Sasaki S, et al. “Long-term outcomes of IVF-conceived Japanese children.” eClinicalMedicine, 2023.
- Hart R. “Clinical review of long-term health in ART-conceived 24–35 year-olds.” Reproductive Health, 2017.
- Hansen M. “Birth outcomes from assisted reproduction—singletons vs multiples.” Hum Reprod Update, 2005.
- Rest assured, IVF babies grow into healthy adults. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, 2015.
- Zhu JL, et al. “Assisted reproductive technology and childhood cancer risks.” JAMA Network Open, 2023.