ABSTRACT
Following the first successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy in 1976 and successful birth following IVF in 1978 [1], it is now estimated that in excess of 5 million children have been born as a result of IVF since the technique was developed in the early 1970s [2]. Europe currently leads the world in rates of IVF, taking responsibility for up to 55% of all IVF cycles, and in 2011 France, Germany, and Italy were the world’ s most active countries in this area. Approximately 1.5 million IVF cycles are performed each year worldwide. This number is predicted to rapidly increase in years to come. Currently, good data exists regarding pregnancy and short-term outcomes for children conceived via IVF [3,4]; however, there is a need for more to clearly establish long-term health and safety.
