Could fertility drugs increase the chances of autism?

Question

I have a friend that took fertility drugs to have children, she had twins, the daughter is normal but the son has autism. I was wondering if the drugs she took had something to do with this disability.

Answer 1

Autism has no single, identifiable cause. The disorder seems to be related to abnormalities in several regions of the brain. Researchers have identified a number of gene defects associated with autism.
There is probably no single gene or genetic defect that is responsible for autism. Researchers suspect that there are a number of different genes that, when combined together, increase the risk of getting autism. In families with one child with autism, the risk of having another child with autism is 3-8%.
In some children, autism is linked to an underlying medical condition. Examples include metabolic disorders (untreated phenylketonuria [PKU]), congenital infections (rubella, cytomegalovirus [CMV], toxoplasmosis), genetic disorders (fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis), developmental brain abnormalities (microcephaly, macrocephaly, cerebral dysgenesis), and neurologic disorders acquired after birth (lead encephalopathy, bacterial meningitis). These medical disorders alone do not cause autism as most children with these conditions do not have autism.
Autism affects males four times more often than females.
Recent research suggests that children of couples having fertility problems are more likely to have serious conditions like autism and cerebral palsy.
Health problems which are making it difficult for these couples to conceive in the first place is probably what contributes to these conditions, according to scientists. In addition fertility treatments like IVF, may also play a role in contributing to these conditions as was reported at an American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting. However experts stress that the overall risk was still relatively low. They stated the need for counseling of couples about the risks and encouraging them to improve their health before undergoing fertility treatment.
According to Professor Mary Croughan, lead researcher of the University of California study on 4,000 women and their children aged up to six years, couples with fertility problems were also more likely to have other health problems, like diabetes and heart disease, as well as having a higher risk of pregnancy and labor complications. She said: "What has caused them to be unable to conceive goes on to cause problems."
"It is as if a brick wall has stopped you becoming pregnant. Treatment allows you to climb over the wall, but it is still there and it goes on to cause problems."
The study revealed that the risk of five serious disorders - autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, seizures and cancer - was 2.7 times higher among the children born to 2,000 women who experienced fertility problems than among those born to the 2,000 women who did not have difficult conceiving.

Answer 2

Most women who take fertility drugs are older. And in most couples the man is older than the woman. So an educated guess would be that the father of the twins is in his 40s or 50s.

And THAT, the age of the father, not the fertility drugs, is what seems to increase the risks.

A recent study indicates that the older the father is, the greater the risk of having a child with autism.

A man in his 40's is 5 times more likely to have an autistic child than a man in his 20's.

***edit***
Clair - The increase you hear about is grossly exagerated. That is comparing an old rate which only included "classic" or Low-functiong autism with the modern rate which includes Aspergers & other diagnosis' such as PDD-NOS. Even then, there was gross under diagnosis back then. An autistic child was frequently diagnosed brain damaged or simply "retarded."

I bet you my two uncles (born before WWII) would have been diagnosed with Aspergers if they were kids today. And an "odd" guy around our town up until the 1970s was likely autistic. "That Johnny Wall is sure weird but he can fix any watch!" Many believe Bill Gates, Einstein & Newton had Asperger's.

Answer 3

maximum women folk persons who take fertility drugs are older. And in maximum couples the guy is older than the female. So an informed wager may be that the father of the twins is in his 40s or 50s. And THAT, the age of the father, no longer the fertility drugs, is what seems to boost the risks. a recent learn shows that the older the father is, the extra beneficial the threat of having a baby with autism. a guy in his 40's is 5 circumstances lots extra in all probability to have an autistic baby than a guy in his 20's.

Answer 4

No, I highly doubt that. Autism is a problem with how the brain functions - neurotransmitters. There is a wiring problem so to speak. It's very debatable as to what causes this, but a lot of specialists believe it's genetic.

I'm doubtful to believe that a medicine did it. So many other children have autism and their parents didn't take fertility meds. Also, many people believed led/mercury in vaccinations led to autism. But, that has been highly studied and disproved. I think that only highlights this is a genetic problem not an environmental problem.

Answer 5

Scientists aren’t certain what causes autism, but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role. Researchers have identified a number of genes associated with the disorder. Studies of people with autism have found irregularities in several regions of the brain. Other studies suggest that people with autism have abnormal levels of serotonin or other neurotransmitters in the brain. These abnormalities suggest that autism could result from the disruption of normal brain development early in fetal development caused by defects in genes that control brain growth and that regulate how neurons communicate with each other. While these findings are intriguing, they are preliminary and require further study. The theory that parental practices are responsible for autism has now been disproved.

Answer 6

I think it's the too early injections of vaccinations which do repeated harm to thier immune and sometimes neurological systems.
Autism has increased 500 fold since the aggressive onset of young infant vaccination programs in the early 90's.

coincidence? I think not.

And for those who try to say it's genetic: Where are all the autistic adults? If they measured any bit to the numbers we have of autistic children now, they would be all over the place!
Think about it.
I think the out and out denial that autism rates have increased enormously is sadly hilarious and is a black mark telling of the bias of the medical elite religion.

Answer 7

Hmmmm - hard to say.... but just recently (within the last two weeks) read a report in the newspapers that a gene has been identified as linked to autism. If so, it points to heredity rather than drugs. (ps.... I am not a geneticist but have worked with autistic kids.)

Answer 8

i do not know, anything is possible but for a little reassurance women have autistic children that never took fertility drugs.