Studies Link Infertility Treatments to Autism

HuckleB

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Thu Jun-03-10 08:57 AM
Original message

Studies Link Infertility Treatments to Autism

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1990567,00.html

"Every parent of a child with autism wonders what might have caused the disorder. Does it secretly run in the family? Was there a toxic exposure during pregnancy? An infection in early infancy? Was the mother or father too old?

Amy Sawelson Landes of Tarzana, Calif., has asked herself all of these questions, plus one more: Could the fact that she had taken an infertility drug to get pregnant have contributed to her son Ted's autism? "It was one of the first things I wondered about," says Landes, who was 37 when Ted was born 18 years ago.

A study presented Wednesday at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Philadelphia provides some of strongest evidence to date that Landes might be onto something. The study, conducted by a team at the Harvard School of Public Health, found that autism was nearly twice as common among the children of women who were treated with the ovulation-inducing drug Clomid and other similar drugs than women who did not suffer from infertility, and the link persisted even after researchers accounted for the women's age.

Moreover, the association between fertility drugs and autism appeared to strengthen with exposure: the longer women reported being treated for infertility, the higher the chances their child had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

..."

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Very interesting. Certainly, more research should be done, so potential parents can be informed of any possible risks.

:hi:

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ensho

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Thu Jun-03-10 09:22 AM
Response to Original message

1. kick

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SocialistLez

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Thu Jun-03-10 09:24 AM
Response to Original message

2. I'd love to see infertility treatments heavily taxed

Negative population growth is absolutely necessary.

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HuckleB

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Thu Jun-03-10 09:28 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. That's an interesting proposal.

On the other side, perhaps it makes sense to give assistance for birth control.

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SocialistLez

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Thu Jun-03-10 09:37 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. I support that as well.

I'd LOVE to see vasectomies and sterilizations given to people who really want them.
The same goes for birth control pills. If you want them, you should be able to get them from the gov. Depending on your income, it can be free or you pay a fee based upon your income.

I've heard some great things about the state of Washington and their support of birth control for women.
I wish I could say the same about my state.

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kestrel91316

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Thu Jun-03-10 10:00 AM
Response to Reply #2

5. +1 000 000 000

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BadgerKid

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Thu Jun-03-10 11:09 AM
Response to Reply #2

6. Doesn't your "negative population growth" comment mix issues?

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SocialistLez

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Thu Jun-03-10 11:19 AM
Response to Reply #6

7. Not really....

If you can make the case for it, I'm all ears.

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BadgerKid

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Thu Jun-03-10 02:40 PM
Response to Reply #7

10. Simply, why should you or the government regulate who

is more able and who is less able to bring one's own genetic child into the world? Would you not even allow a rule like one child per household?

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Dorian Gray

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Thu Jun-03-10 12:39 PM
Response to Reply #2

9. Well, they are extraordinarily

expensive and often not covered by insurance plans, so that, in itself, may be a deterrent.

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Dorian Gray

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Thu Jun-03-10 12:38 PM
Response to Original message

8. I've wondered about a possible connection

as the rates of autism have seemed to risen in conjunction with increased fertility drug usage (as well as a rising age in first time mothers). Being 38 myself and pregnant for the first time, it's something that I've spent a lot of time considering. I did go through a few rounds of using fertility drugs, but ended up pregnant after those rounds did not work while I was "on a break."

Nothing scientific behind my thoughts on this, but it is interesting to see studies being done.

(Though, having said this, my cousin has an autistic son, as does a friend, and neither of them used any fertility aids.)

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